common transgression

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "common transgression" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to a frequently committed offense or wrongdoing in various contexts, such as legal, moral, or social discussions. Example: "Littering in public spaces is a common transgression that many people overlook."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Greed: This is without doubt capitalism's most common transgression.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

The same day, Facebook updated its Terms of Service, rewording many of its rules to make them easier to understand and explicitly prohibiting some common transgressions, like including false information in profiles or creating fake accounts.

TechCrunch

A study of third year clerks found that the most common transgressions of professionalism included "the use of derogatory language towards other services or patients and the disrespectful treatment of others" [ 30].

BMC Medical Education

The most common transgressions described were posting inappropriate pictures (15 instances), swearing (13), criticising teachers and programmes (9), drinking (9), posting comments open to misinterpretation (8) and parties (5).

BMJ Open

"So why not just let it go to voice mail?" Other common executive-etiquette transgressions include people who answer their phones or BlackBerries in the middle of meetings, and text messages and e-mails without proper grammar, spelling and punctuation.

Forbes

Delivering the sentence, he invoked the deception at Harvard and suggested that there was a "common thread" between that transgression and this case: an "unwillingness to accept anything other than the top grade, the best school, the highest bonus — and the willingness to do anything to achieve that result".

The New Yorker

Comperes will explicitly forbid heckling in the same breath as forbidding phone-usage, the latter transgression being more common than the former.

The Guardian

Each will be trying to convince them that they must look past their past transgressions in their common fight against the devil.

Huffington Post

Romantic, dramatic, and somehow both private and public suicides amongst officials seeking redemption for dishonoring (but not in many parts of the world life-shattering) transgressions became so common that in 1989 they inspired the Pixies' " Wave of Mutilation." In Japan, there are even national Meccas for such suicides, like the Aokigahara forest on the slopes of Mt. Fuji.

Vice

But Ortiz continued to pursue the case, comparing Swartz's transgression to that of a common thief.

Huffington Post

Her transgressions are meat-and-potatoes common.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing ethical or legal matters, use "common transgression" to underscore the frequency of a particular offense without sensationalizing it. This conveys a sense of scale and helps contextualize the problem.

Common error

Avoid using "common transgression" when the violation is, in fact, rare or isolated. Misusing the phrase can diminish the seriousness of more significant offenses.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "common transgression" functions as a noun phrase where the adjective "common" modifies the noun "transgression". Ludwig indicates that this phrase correctly refers to a frequently occurring offense.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Science

30%

Encyclopedias

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Wiki

10%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "common transgression" is a grammatically sound phrase used to describe frequently occurring offenses. Ludwig confirms its correctness and usability. While not exceedingly frequent, it finds its place in diverse contexts such as news, science, and encyclopedic discussions. When using this phrase, ensure the transgression is genuinely common to avoid misrepresentation. Alternatives like "frequent offense" or "typical violation" can offer nuanced alternatives. Always consider the scale and severity of the transgression to maintain accuracy and avoid diminishing the impact of serious violations. The phrase effectively highlights the prevalence of specific wrongdoings across different fields.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

frequent offense

Emphasizes the repetitive nature of the wrongdoing.

typical violation

Highlights the standard or expected nature of the breach.

usual infraction

Focuses on the ordinary or customary aspect of the rule-breaking.

routine misdeed

Indicates that the act is a normal or habitual wrongdoing.

prevalent wrongdoing

Stresses the widespread occurrence of the misconduct.

widespread violation

Highlights that a great number of people break a specific rule or code of conduct.

general misconduct

Focuses on the ordinary aspect of an inappropriate and illegal behaviour.

familiar sin

Emphasizes the habitual aspect of the wrongdoing, often with a moral tone.

ordinary breach

Highlights the simplicity and mundane nature of a violation.

established pattern of offense

Focuses on how the transgression is repeated on a continuous timeline.

FAQs

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

You can use "common transgression" to describe a frequently occurring offense. For example, "Littering in public spaces is a "common transgression" that many people overlook".

What are some alternatives to "common transgression"?

Alternatives include "frequent offense", "typical violation", or "usual infraction", depending on the context.

Is "common transgression" a formal or informal phrase?

"Common transgression" is suitable for both formal and informal contexts, though it's often used in more serious discussions about ethics, law, or social behavior.

What makes a transgression "common"?

A transgression is considered "common" when it occurs frequently or is widely observed within a specific context or population. The scale of occurrence determines its classification as common.