commonality

USAGE SUMMARY

The word 'commonality' is correct and usable in written English.
It usually refers to the things that are shared between two or more different things. For example, you could say, "There is a commonality between the two stories in their themes of overcoming adversity."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

They said that the women must instead try for class status under a more restrictive rule that requires the issues binding the class not just be common, but that their commonality predominate, alongside other restrictive conditions.

The Economist

At the same time, there is a common, universal element in ri that defined a larger realm of commonality in terms of potential being.

SEP

I turned to my colleagues and said: 'There's a commonality with the Mall of America, in that it's on that proportion.' This was one of those Tina Brown buzz-filled moments, where a "controversial" (ie: unflattering) photograph with a dramatic headline ("The Queen of Rage") led to a brief hullabaloo.

The Guardian

There has been decades of committed community involvement going on – after all, the trade union movement itself grew from an ideological viewpoint of creating a voice and community action for people who had a commonality of interests.

The Guardian

What they seem to proclaim is not a distinct civilisation, but a worthy successor to ancient Rome, that later became a worthy precursor to the Renaissance.Stress is laid on the commonality of subject-matter between pagan art and that of the early Christians; we are told that "progressive" (sic) forms of Byzantine art foreshadowed Renaissance humanism.

The Economist

"I've never seen such a degree of commonality across the Muslim-American spectrum," says Kareem Irfan, an Indian-American who heads an association of Muslim groups in the Chicago area.

The Economist

From their despair emerges something reassuring: a feeling of commonality and a modest sense of hope.

The Economist

On the other hand he also stressed that separate sovereign states could be part of a "single, spiritual space"—that seemed to imply that spiritual commonality did not always require subordination to the same earthly master.I have thought a lot about the relationship between Russian Orthodoxy and Russian statehood.

The Economist

As we have seen with NCLB and countless other examples, a time-proven strategy for driving down quality is to push for commonality.

The Economist

This uncertainty was "worlds away" from satisfying the commonality test, wrote Judge Scalia.

The Economist

However, the key commonality is that their spontaneously created languages resemble fully-formed languages.That result, if confirmed in other studies, could have profound implications.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "commonality" when you want to emphasize a shared attribute or characteristic that connects different entities or concepts. It adds a layer of formality and precision to your writing.

Common error

Avoid using "commonality" in overly casual or informal writing. Simpler words like "similarity" or "likeness" may be more appropriate and sound less pretentious.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "commonality" is as a noun. It refers to a shared attribute or characteristic, as seen in the Ludwig examples where it describes shared interests or subject matter. It functions as the subject or object of a sentence.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

38%

Science

32%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

7%

Reference

5%

Wiki

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "commonality" is a grammatically correct and frequently used noun that refers to shared attributes or characteristics. As Ludwig AI confirms, its use is appropriate in formal contexts, such as academic writing, news reports, and business communications. While simpler alternatives exist, "commonality" provides a precise and nuanced way to highlight connections between different entities. The term's prevalence in sources like The Economist and the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy underscores its acceptance and value in formal discourse. Understanding its function and appropriate contexts will enhance the clarity and sophistication of your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

shared characteristic

Focuses on a single attribute that is shared.

shared attribute

Highlights a specific quality held in common.

point of similarity

Emphasizes a particular aspect where things are alike.

area of overlap

Suggests a shared space or domain.

common ground

Implies a basis for agreement or understanding.

similarity

A general term for being alike in some way.

likeness

Indicates a resemblance or similarity.

resemblance

Suggests a similarity in appearance or nature.

shared trait

Highlights a feature possessed by multiple entities.

common feature

Indicates a characteristic found in multiple instances.

FAQs

How to use "commonality" in a sentence?

"Commonality" is used to refer to shared attributes or characteristics. For instance, "The "commonality of interests" among the group members facilitated collaboration."

What can I say instead of "commonality"?

You can use alternatives like "similarity", "likeness", or "resemblance" depending on the specific context. For example, "There is a strong similarity between the two designs."

Which is correct, "commonality" or "commonness"?

Both "commonality" and "commonness" refer to shared qualities, but "commonality" is often used in more formal or technical contexts, while "commonness" is more general. Commonality emphasizes a specific shared feature; "commonness" refers to how frequent something is.

What's the difference between "commonality" and "community"?

"Commonality" refers to shared attributes or characteristics, while "community" refers to a group of people living in the same place or having a particular characteristic in common. They are related but not interchangeable.