common tendency

USAGE SUMMARY

"common tendency" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it to describe a habit or inclination that is shared by a lot of people. For example, "The common tendency in modern society is toward a greater acceptance of diversity."

✓ Grammatically correct

Academia

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The arrow teetered ambiguously between scorn and praise a common tendency in Harrison's art.

The New Yorker

Second, resist the common tendency to merely glance over deal documents and file them away.

Harvard University

First, beware the common tendency to equate being collaborative with being nice.

Harvard University

Resist the common tendency to merely glance over deal documents and file them away.

Harvard University

Bazerman and New York University professor Dolly Chugh call this common tendency bounded awareness.

Harvard University

There is a common tendency to neglect students' experience and process of learning during assessments.

Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences

The arrow teetered ambiguously between scorn and praise — a common tendency in Harrison's art.

The New Yorker

It was ferociously alive and resisted the common tendency of commissioned pieces to be overstudied or contrived.

The New York Times - Arts

Mr. Taub avoided the common tendency to smooth over the edges of the "Pastoral" Sonata to create a painterly reading.

The New York Times

Avoid the common tendency to add staff and overhead in order to save on direct labor and capital investment.

Harvard Business Review

A diffusion index is a method of summarizing the common tendency of a group of statistical series.

Britannica

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Using 'common tendency' in academic writing to point out trends noticed in the literature. For example 'a common tendency in the studies was...'

Common error

Avoid stating that a "common tendency" exists without sufficient evidence or data to support the claim. Overgeneralizing can weaken your argument and credibility.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "common tendency" functions as a noun phrase, typically acting as a subject or object in a sentence. Ludwig shows its role in identifying prevalent behaviors or characteristics. As indicated by Ludwig AI, it is indeed a valid expression in English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Academia

30%

News & Media

30%

Science

25%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Formal & Business

5%

Wiki

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "common tendency" effectively captures prevalent behaviors or characteristics across various contexts. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically sound and widely used. The phrase sees frequent use in academic, news, and scientific domains. When employing "common tendency", ensure your claims are well-supported with evidence to avoid overgeneralization. Alternatives such as ""general trend"" or ""widespread practice"" can provide nuanced variations. Overall, "common tendency" serves as a valuable tool for describing patterns and inclinations in a clear and accessible manner.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

common inclination

Replaces "tendency" with "inclination", suggesting a natural leaning or disposition.

common trend

Substitutes "tendency" with "trend", highlighting a general direction or pattern.

common propensity

Uses "propensity" instead of "tendency", indicating a natural inclination or predisposition.

widespread tendency

Adds "widespread" to emphasize the broad prevalence of the tendency.

general tendency

Replaces "common" with "general", denoting a widespread or prevalent characteristic.

normal tendency

Uses "normal" to suggest the tendency is typical or expected.

frequent tendency

Substitutes "common" with "frequent", emphasizing how often the tendency occurs.

collective tendency

Emphasizes that the tendency is shared by a group.

shared inclination

Highlights that the inclination is something held in common.

prevailing inclination

Indicates that the inclination is currently dominant or widespread.

FAQs

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

You can use "common tendency" to describe a prevalent behavior or characteristic within a group. For instance, "A "common tendency" among students is to procrastinate before exams".

What's a good substitute for "common tendency"?

Alternatives for "common tendency" include phrases like "general trend", "widespread practice", or "prevailing attitude", depending on the specific context.

Is it correct to say "a tendency that is common" instead of "common tendency"?

While grammatically correct, "a tendency that is common" is less concise and stylistically weaker than the more direct phrase ""common tendency"". The latter is generally preferred for its efficiency and clarity.

What's the difference between "common tendency" and "general rule"?

"Common tendency" describes a prevalent inclination or behavior, whereas "general rule" refers to a principle or guideline that is typically followed. A ""common tendency"" is descriptive, while a "general rule" is prescriptive.