common thing for

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "common thing for" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a frequent occurrence or typical situation related to a specific subject or context. Example: "It's a common thing for people to feel nervous before a job interview."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

30 human-written examples

"It's a pretty common thing for volunteer departments nationwide".

The New York Times

That's a common thing for middle-class Irish girls to do.

The New York Times - Magazine

We also got some death threats by email, which is, unfortunately, a very common thing for journalists in Russia.

The Washington Post

"She had hope and I didn't, which is a common thing for people wanting to see change but not knowing how to get it," he says.

The New York Times

"It turns out that our internal testers are very affectionate and that 'I love you' is a very common thing for people at Google to say".

The New Yorker

Even so, it became a common thing for staff to be accused of rigging equipment, of dialling up losing streaks, of modulating people's electronic luck.

The Guardian - Business

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

30 human-written examples

So as an example of that, one of the more common things for us to see is 3%to5%5% of the people in many, many networks will account for 20%to35%5% of the value-added collaborations.

Harvard Business Review

The ingredients eggs, flour and milk used to be very common things for people to give up for Lent, so it made sense to use them all up.

BBC

After all, one of the most common things for someone to do after viewing an online recipe is to search for places where they can find the ingredients at a low price, so this should be a natural way to keep readers at a website for a longer period of time.

TechCrunch

"A very common thing is for people with fake certificates to say, 'Oh, you can check my certificate on the university website.

Vice

"A really common thing is for people to say that they 'can't draw'," Cohn tells me, "but what that really means is they have under-developed capacities for expression within visual language".

Vice

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "common thing for", ensure that the context clearly specifies for whom or what the thing is common. For example, "It's a common thing for students to feel stressed during exams."

Common error

Avoid using "common thing for" without specifying the relevant group or situation. Saying "It's a common thing" is too vague; clarify by adding context, such as "It's a common thing for travelers to experience jet lag."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "common thing for" functions as a descriptor, indicating that something is a frequent or typical occurrence within a particular context. Ludwig AI confirms this usage, showing examples where it describes prevalent situations or actions. This aligns with its role in setting expectations or describing norms.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Wiki

25%

HuffPost

15%

Less common in

Science

5%

Formal & Business

3%

Encyclopedias

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "common thing for" is used to describe something that frequently occurs or is typical within a specific context. Ludwig AI analysis confirms that it is grammatically correct and widely used across various sources, including news, media, and general discussions. While versatile, ensuring the context is clear is crucial to avoid vagueness. Alternatives such as "typical occurrence for" or "usual practice for" can provide more formality when needed. This phrase serves primarily to inform and normalize experiences by highlighting prevalent situations and behaviors.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

typical occurrence for

Replaces "common" with "typical" and "thing" with "occurrence", emphasizing the usual nature of the event.

usual practice for

Substitutes "common thing" with "usual practice", focusing on established methods or customs.

regular event for

Emphasizes the frequency of the event using the word "regular".

standard procedure for

Focuses on established guidelines or protocols, making it suitable for formal contexts.

normal situation for

Highlights the ordinariness of the circumstance.

frequent phenomenon for

Replaces "thing" with "phenomenon", suitable for scientific or academic contexts.

customary behavior for

Focuses on accepted patterns of action or conduct.

prevailing trend for

Emphasizes widespread acceptance or adoption.

widespread habit for

Highlights the pervasiveness of the habit.

general tendency for

Focuses on the inclination or propensity for something to occur.

FAQs

How can I use "common thing for" in a sentence?

Use "common thing for" to describe something that frequently happens or is typical within a specific context. For example, "It's a "common thing for" students to feel nervous before a test."

What can I say instead of "common thing for"?

You can use alternatives like "typical occurrence for", "usual practice for", or "regular event for" depending on the context.

Is it more formal to say "common thing for" or are there better alternatives?

While "common thing for" is acceptable, more formal alternatives include "standard procedure for" or "frequent phenomenon for" especially in academic or business writing.

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

"Common thing for" describes something that often happens, while "general tendency for" suggests an inclination or likelihood. For example, "It's a "common thing for" people to feel tired after work" versus "There's a general tendency for stock prices to rise over time."