commonly held

USAGE SUMMARY

"commonly held" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it to describe an opinion or belief that is widely shared. For example, "It is a commonly held belief that education is the key to success."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

It is a commonly held view.

The Guardian - Sport

"I think that's a commonly held view.

The New York Times - Books

'I think that's a very commonly held view.

The Guardian

That was not a commonly held opinion at the time.

The New York Times - Arts

The report's findings seem to confirm some commonly held presumptions.

The Guardian - Money

In Australia, it is a view commonly held.

The Guardian - Sport

But Navarro takes these commonly held views into radical terrain.

The New Yorker

The commonly held view is that most of the cars were abandoned or destroyed.

The New York Times

Then pose and research unconventional questions that challenge commonly held assumptions.

The New York Times

One commonly held idea about BoP businesses is that they reach profitability through scale.

The Guardian

This view is commonly held across all demographic and regional groups.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "commonly held", ensure that you're accurately representing a widely accepted belief and not just a personal opinion. Provide evidence or context to support the claim that the belief is indeed commonly held.

Common error

Avoid using "commonly held" when the belief is only prevalent within a specific group or community. Overstating the breadth of acceptance can weaken your argument. Instead, specify the group that holds the belief.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "commonly held" functions as a pre-modifying adjective phrase that describes a noun (e.g., belief, view, assumption). It indicates that the noun it modifies is widely shared or accepted by a group of people. Ludwig confirms the phrase's correct usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

35%

Encyclopedias

10%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "commonly held" is a versatile and frequently used expression to denote widespread acceptance of a belief, opinion, or assumption. As confirmed by Ludwig, it maintains grammatical correctness and finds its place across diverse contexts, notably in news, scientific discourse, and encyclopedic entries. While "commonly held" serves to represent shared perspectives, it's vital to avoid overgeneralizations and guarantee accurate representation. Related alternatives include "widely accepted", "generally believed", and "universally acknowledged". Remember to confirm that it is actually a "commonly held" belief to avoid misrepresentation.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

widely accepted

Focuses on the broad acceptance of an idea, shifting from the act of 'holding' to the state of 'acceptance'.

generally believed

Emphasizes the belief aspect, suggesting a widespread consensus rather than a conscious holding of a view.

universally acknowledged

Highlights the aspect of universal recognition or agreement.

prevailing opinion

Shifts the focus to the dominant viewpoint within a specific context or group.

conventional wisdom

Refers to a set of beliefs that are widely accepted but not necessarily based on evidence.

established view

Highlights the long-standing nature and acceptance of the perspective.

popular perception

Focuses on how something is popularly understood or viewed, possibly without deep reflection.

standard understanding

Indicates that there is a usual or typical interpretation of something.

received wisdom

Similar to conventional wisdom, implying that the knowledge has been passed down and accepted without critical examination.

accepted knowledge

Emphasizes that the point of view it is being discussed has become established and is unlikely to be challenged.

FAQs

How can I use "commonly held" in a sentence?

You can use "commonly held" to describe beliefs or views that are widely shared. For example, "It is a "commonly held belief" that exercise is beneficial for health."

What's a more formal alternative to "commonly held"?

More formal alternatives include "widely accepted", "generally believed", or "universally acknowledged", depending on the context.

Is it always accurate to describe something as "commonly held"?

No, it's important to ensure that the belief truly is widespread and not just prevalent within a specific group. Overusing "commonly held" can lead to overgeneralizations.

What's the difference between "commonly held" and "conventional wisdom"?

"Commonly held" simply means widely believed, while "conventional wisdom" refers to beliefs that are widely accepted but not necessarily based on evidence or critical examination.