as was normal

USAGE SUMMARY

"as was normal" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it to describe a situation that has usually been the case in a certain context or which is typically expected. For example, "The staff arrived at the office each day at around 9 a.m., as was normal."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

18 human-written examples

There were no early checks, as was normal and expected, for ticket holders.

The Guardian - Sport

Yet the protesting troops had expected to find Congress's chamber in Independence Hall empty, as was normal on a weekend.

Princeton University

Later, my twin sister and I managed to avoid being married off at 18 – as was normal in my Greek family – and I got into Rada.

The Guardian

(As was normal for both parties until 2008, the Romney campaign relied largely on outside consultants for its technology, rather than developing its own).

The Economist

Instead of spending his Saturday afternoons on the rugby league terraces, as was normal in Widnes, Stanley used them to make, he said, "the journey between two great northern cities, Liverpool and Manchester," to go to Tate Liverpool or the Walker Art Gallery.

Independent

The 5th Division started attacking without, as was normal, blowing their bugles and shouting war cries.

Wikipedia

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

42 human-written examples

As is normal practice, my private secretary would have been present at the meeting.

The Guardian

There are security arrangements in place for Sir Fred, as is normal practice for departing executives.

The Guardian - Business

The sentence was referred to Egyptian religious authorities for review, as is normal in capital cases.

The Guardian

They face not each other, as is normal, but the audience.

The New York Times

As is normal in such situations, epically shocking events open up the imagination of disaster.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "as was normal" to provide context by establishing a baseline expectation, particularly when describing deviations from the expected.

Common error

Avoid using "as was normal" when the normalcy is already implied. Redundancy weakens the sentence. For example, instead of saying "He arrived on time, as was normal," simply say "He arrived on time" if timeliness is already the expectation.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "as was normal" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a clause by providing context about the typical state or occurrence of something. It sets a baseline expectation, enhancing understanding. Ludwig indicates this phrase is grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

43%

Wiki

34%

Science

23%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "as was normal" is a versatile adverbial phrase used to establish typical or expected circumstances. According to Ludwig, the phrase is grammatically correct and commonly found in News & Media, Wiki, and Science. While it's crucial to avoid redundancy and overuse, it serves as a valuable tool for providing context and setting expectations. Alternatives such as ""as was typical"" or "usually" can offer similar meanings with slightly different nuances.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

as was typical

Replaces "normal" with "typical", suggesting something conforms to a usual pattern.

as was customary

Substitutes "normal" with "customary", implying adherence to established traditions or practices.

as was usual

Uses "usual" instead of "normal", indicating something happens in the majority of cases.

as was standard practice

Replaces "normal" with "standard practice", indicating established and accepted methods.

as was the norm

Expresses the same idea using the noun "norm" instead of the adjective "normal".

as was common

Uses "common" instead of "normal", indicating that it occurred frequently.

typically

A shorter adverbial form expressing that something is generally expected.

ordinarily

Similar to "typically" but can also imply something is done according to established order.

usually

A common adverb expressing what happens most of the time.

in general

A broader phrase indicating a general pattern or expectation.

FAQs

How can I use "as was normal" in a sentence?

You can use "as was normal" to indicate that a situation or action was typical or expected in a given context. For example, "The meeting started promptly at 9 AM, "as was normal"".

What phrases are similar to "as was normal"?

Alternatives include "as was typical", "as was usual", or "typically", depending on the nuance you want to convey.

Is "as was normal" formal or informal?

"As was normal" can be used in both formal and informal contexts, but it's more common in neutral to slightly formal writing. The appropriateness depends on the overall tone and style of your writing.

When should I avoid using "as was normal"?

Avoid using "as was normal" when the context already clearly implies that something is typical or expected, as this can lead to redundancy. Consider using a more concise alternative or omitting the phrase altogether.