common to the

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "common to the" is correct and can be used in written English.
You can use it to refer to something that is shared or similar to a particular group of people or things. For example, "The challenge of finding a job is a common to the unemployed."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

2. "Common threats" meaning common to the two countries in this case, just to be clear.

The Washington Post

It is common to the Mashreq area.

Columbia University

Sandel refers to a failure common to the western world.

The Guardian - Opinion

There are other tropes common to the stories.

Independent

Skin lesions common to the faces of old people?

The New York Times

This idea eliminates a long list of annoyances common to the Internet-based phone companies.

The New York Times - Tech

He observed students, architecture, cars, clothing and other elements common to the area.

The New York Times - Arts

Recidivism is as common to the justice system as orange jumpsuits and iron bars.

The New York Times

What, after all, is common to the cultures bound together here?

The New York Times - Arts

But words that horrify marketers are quite common to the rest of us.

The New York Times

Guinea is rife with the ills common to the rest of the region.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "common to the" to clearly indicate shared attributes or characteristics among a defined group or category. For example, "High employee turnover is a challenge common to the retail industry."

Common error

Avoid using "common of" or "common with" in place of "common to". While these prepositions might seem interchangeable, "common to" is the grammatically correct and widely accepted form.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "common to the" functions as a prepositional phrase, indicating a shared attribute, characteristic, or experience within a particular group or context. This is supported by Ludwig AI, which confirms its grammatical correctness and provides numerous examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

37%

Science

36%

Academia

14%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Formal & Business

2%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "common to the" is a grammatically sound and versatile prepositional phrase used to denote shared characteristics or attributes within a specific group or context. As validated by Ludwig, it's prevalent across diverse sources, including news, scientific, and academic writings. While alternatives like "shared by" or "typical of" exist, "common to the" offers a direct and widely accepted means of establishing commonality. Be mindful to use the correct preposition "to" rather than "of" or "with" to avoid grammatical errors.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

shared by

Focuses on the aspect of being jointly possessed or experienced.

typical of

Emphasizes representativeness and conformity to a particular type or group.

characteristic of

Highlights a distinctive attribute or quality.

prevalent in

Stresses widespread existence or occurrence within a defined scope.

relevant to

Highlights the connection and applicability to the subject at hand.

applicable to

Emphasizes the suitability and fitness for a particular purpose or situation.

inherent in

Suggests an essential or intrinsic quality.

intrinsic to

Emphasizes an essential and inseparable element of something.

peculiar to

Highlights the uniqueness and distinctiveness to a specific entity.

belonging to

Focuses on the aspect of ownership or membership.

FAQs

How can I use "common to the" in a sentence?

Use "common to the" to describe something shared or typical among a group. For instance, "Rising sea levels are "common to the" many island nations" illustrates a shared challenge.

What's a good alternative to "common to the"?

Alternatives include "shared by", "typical of", or "characteristic of" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "common for the" instead of "common to the"?

While "common for" can express general prevalence, ""common to the"" is more precise when indicating something specific shared among members of a defined group. "Common for" is usually followed by a verb, for example: It is common for people to want to be happy.

What does "common to the human experience" mean?

It refers to aspects of life, feelings, or events that are universally experienced by people, regardless of culture or background. Examples include joy, sorrow, love, and loss.