common experience

USAGE SUMMARY

'common experience' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to a situation or experience that many people have had or are familiar with, such as 'It's a common experience for students to feel overwhelmed when preparing for exams.'.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

What is the common experience?

Columbia University

Again, this is the common experience.

The New York Times

"It's a common experience we all have.

The New York Times

It's a common experience for most students.

Harvard University

What's beautiful about it is that it's a common experience.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

Yet she found common experience with friends from former Yugoslavia.

The Guardian - Books

Changing one's mind as ideas develop is a common experience.

The Guardian

Common experience and common sense confirm this understanding".

The New Yorker

That's the common experience that pulls them all together".

The Guardian

We understood each other instantly, were united by common experience.

The New Yorker

But isn't that a really common experience for adolescents?

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "common experience" to create a sense of connection with your audience by referencing situations they can relate to. This can enhance engagement and understanding.

Common error

Avoid assuming that all individuals share the same interpretation of a "common experience". Acknowledge potential differences in perspective and avoid making generalizations that exclude minority viewpoints.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "common experience" functions as a noun phrase, where "common" modifies the noun "experience". Ludwig indicates that it is grammatically correct and suitable for use in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

54%

Academia

16%

Science

16%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "common experience" is a grammatically sound and versatile phrase used to describe shared events, feelings, or knowledge across various contexts. Ludwig confirms its correctness and usability in written English. It frequently appears in News & Media, Academia, and Science, making it a broadly applicable expression. When employing this phrase, it's important to consider potential differences in individual interpretation to avoid overgeneralization. Exploring alternatives like "shared experience" or "universal experience" can provide nuanced expression depending on the intended message.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

shared experience

Focuses on the aspect of sharing an experience, highlighting the collective nature of the event.

universal experience

Emphasizes that the experience is applicable to almost everyone, regardless of background.

widespread phenomenon

Highlights the broad occurrence and impact of a specific event or situation.

collective understanding

Shifts the focus to a shared comprehension or knowledge about something.

shared reality

Implies that the experience shapes a jointly perceived version of the world.

prevailing sentiment

Centers on a commonly held opinion or feeling within a group.

typical occurrence

Indicates that the experience is normal and expected under certain circumstances.

familiar situation

Suggests that the experience is easily recognized and understood because of its frequency.

general knowledge

Refers to information that is widely known and accepted by most people.

conventional wisdom

Highlights beliefs or ideas that are commonly accepted as true, though not always critically examined.

FAQs

How can I effectively use "common experience" in a sentence?

Use "common experience" to refer to events, feelings, or knowledge shared by a group, like: "Losing power during a storm is a "common experience" in this region".

What phrases can I use instead of "common experience"?

Alternatives include "shared experience", "universal experience", or "widespread phenomenon", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it appropriate to assume everyone has the same interpretation of a "common experience"?

No, it's important to recognize that individuals may have different perspectives and interpretations, even when sharing a seemingly "common experience".

How does "common experience" differ from "general knowledge"?

"Common experience" relates to shared events or feelings, whereas "general knowledge" refers to widely known information. For example, knowing that water boils at 100°C is "general knowledge", while experiencing a power outage during a storm is a "common experience" for residents of a hurricane-prone area.