as commonly understood

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "as commonly understood" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to a definition or interpretation that is widely accepted or recognized by most people. Example: "The term 'freedom' is often defined as commonly understood to mean the absence of constraints or limitations on an individual's actions."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

24 human-written examples

What is not as commonly understood is how smoking can make people feel guilty and ashamed.

The New York Times

The intention is not just to stamp out terrorism as commonly understood, but also to stigmatise perfectly legitimate acts of resistance.

The Guardian - Opinion

But its destructive power is not as commonly understood.

Huffington Post

The third theme was all about rethinking the concept of personal freedom as commonly understood and pursued by most Americans.

Huffington Post

The family is not downsizing as commonly understood.

The Guardian

MSV as commonly understood is a theory of value extraction, not value creation.

Harvard Business Review

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

36 human-written examples

The group was not a school, as is commonly understood in artistic circles, but a remarkably talented collection of intellectuals who liked to eat good French food and converse, among other activities.

The New York Times

What is overlooked, however, is that the word Islam here applies to a relationship with the Divine, "submission" or "consent," not a religion as is commonly understood.

Huffington Post

Sir Christopher Frayling, rector of the Royal College of Art The essence of Derrida is inter-linear analysis: that is, reading between the lines as well as on them; seeing what lies behind a text as well as what is commonly understood as its meaning.

The Guardian - Books

However, this CI does not, as is commonly understood, refer to an interval which contains θ (either θc or θp) with a 95% probability.

British Journal of Cancer

In contrast, three staff participants separately and spontaneously raised a distinction between explaining inheritance through the specific contributions of the parents as individuals, and as the more commonly understood phenomenon of the family lines.

Ethnicity and Health

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "as commonly understood" to clarify that you are referring to a generally accepted definition or interpretation, especially when the term might have multiple meanings or a more technical definition.

Common error

While useful for clarifying meaning, overusing "as commonly understood" can make your writing sound redundant. Consider whether the common understanding is already clear from the context, or if a more concise phrasing would be preferable.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "as commonly understood" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb or adjective to specify that something is being described according to its generally accepted meaning. Ludwig examples show it clarifying terms across diverse subjects.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Academia

30%

Science

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "as commonly understood" serves as a crucial qualifier, ensuring clarity by referencing a widely accepted interpretation. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and provides examples spanning news, academia, and science. While "as commonly understood" helps avoid ambiguity, it should be used judiciously to prevent redundancy. Alternative phrases like "as generally accepted" or "in popular parlance" can offer stylistic variation. Overall, this phrase is a valuable tool for precise communication when defining the scope of a term.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

as generally perceived

Emphasizes general perception rather than explicit understanding.

as widely accepted

Focuses on acceptance or agreement, not necessarily comprehension.

in popular parlance

Highlights common usage of a term or concept, particularly in informal contexts.

by conventional wisdom

Refers to traditional or widely held beliefs.

as society knows it

Refers to the common knowledge within the society.

as it is known

A simpler, more direct way of indicating common knowledge.

in layman's terms

Highlights an explanation meant for the general public.

in common terms

Focuses on the basic and shared understanding of something.

as the average person sees it

Highlights the view of a typical individual.

in public opinion

Highlights widely-held beliefs by the society.

FAQs

How can I use "as commonly understood" in a sentence?

You can use "as commonly understood" to specify that you are using a term in its general or widely accepted sense. For example, "Freedom, "as commonly understood", implies the absence of undue constraints."

What's a simpler alternative to "as commonly understood"?

Alternatives include "as generally accepted", "as widely known", or simply using the term without qualification if the meaning is clear from the context.

Is it always necessary to qualify a term with "as commonly understood"?

No, only use "as commonly understood" if you want to distinguish the general meaning from a technical or specialized definition. Otherwise, it can be redundant.

Which is correct: "as commonly understood" or "that is commonly understood"?

Both phrases are grammatically correct, but "as commonly understood" is more concise and flows better in most sentences. "That is commonly understood" is more appropriate when it introduces a separate clause or explanation.