common among

USAGE SUMMARY

"common among" is a correct and usable part of a sentence in written English.
You can use it when you're comparing two or more items, to show that they have something in common. For example: "Strong communication skills are common among successful entrepreneurs."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Competition is common among monasteries in Sikkim.

The New York Times

They are particularly common among African Americans.

Encyclopedia Britannica

This is particularly common among  friends.

The New York Times

The practice is common among property developers.

The New York Times

The sentiment is common among patients.

The Guardian

Such feelings are common among new MPs.

The Economist

Flight is common among adult heteropterans.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Her worries are common among working women.

The New York Times

The practice is common among gaming communities.

The Guardian

Their tale is common among trachoma sufferers.

The New York Times

But here's what is common among them.

Harvard Business Review

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "common among", ensure the groups or items being compared are clearly defined to avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid assuming that if something is "common among" a group, it is universally true for all members of that group. Prevalence does not equal universality.

Linguistic Context

Common among" functions as a prepositional phrase modifying a noun or pronoun, indicating prevalence or frequency within a specified group. As confirmed by Ludwig, the expression is grammatically correct and widely used in various contexts. For example, "Mental disorders are common among migrant workers."

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

43%

Science

37%

Encyclopedias

5%

Less common in

Academia

3%

Wiki

3%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "common among" is a grammatically sound and widely used expression for indicating prevalence within a group. Ludwig's examples, supported by various sources, confirm its versatility across news, scientific, and general contexts. While "common among" is effective for demonstrating trends, it's important to avoid overgeneralizations about individual group members. Alternative phrases like "prevalent among" or "widespread in" offer similar meanings for diverse writing needs.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

prevalent among

Replaces "common" with a synonym emphasizing widespread occurrence.

widespread in

Focuses on the broad distribution of something within a group.

frequently found in

Highlights the high frequency of occurrence.

typical of

Indicates that something is characteristic or representative of a group.

often seen in

Emphasizes the observable frequency of something.

characteristic of

Focuses on the distinctive traits of a group.

regularly observed in

Highlights consistent observation within a specific group.

inherent to

Suggests that something is an essential part of a group's nature.

peculiar to

Indicates that something is unique to a particular group.

runs in the family

Indicates that a trait or condition is genetically transferred in the family.

FAQs

How can I use "common among" in a sentence?

Use "common among" to indicate that a trait, characteristic, or occurrence is frequently observed or found within a specific group. For instance, "Hypertension is more "common among African Americans"".

What are some alternatives to "common among"?

You can use alternatives like "prevalent among", "widespread in", or "frequently found in" depending on the specific context.

Is it grammatically correct to say "common among"?

Yes, it is grammatically correct. The phrase "common among" is a standard construction used to express prevalence or frequency within a defined group.

What's the difference between "common among" and "common to"?

"Common among" indicates prevalence within a group (e.g., "This trait is common among siblings"), while "common to" indicates something shared by all members of a group (e.g., "Breathing is common to all mammals").