commonly held myth

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "commonly held myth" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to a belief or idea that is widely accepted by a group of people, even if it may not be true. Example: "The notion that humans only use 10% of their brains is a commonly held myth that has been debunked by neuroscientists."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

8 human-written examples

In this prize-winning book, a renowned political scientist debunks the commonly held myth that the American national government functions effectively only when one political party controls the presidency and Congress.

Yale University

"It is a commonly held myth that White Star line stopped the crews' wages the day Titanic sank," says Molony.

BBC

The jerk articulated a commonly held myth.

Huffington Post

The blog's name voiced her desire to dispel a commonly held myth about hair growth in the black community.

Huffington Post

It is a commonly held myth that street harassment happens in low income communities and communities of color.

Huffington Post

Those who do know about the time Capone spent in the City of Brotherly Love probably accept the commonly held myth that the mob boss, feeling the heat from the St . Valentines Day Massacre he had engineered on the North Side of Chicago, set up his own arrest to remove himself from the public eye and the possibility of retaliation from other mobsters.

Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

He tried to debunk commonly held myths about the language — for example, that Chinese characters are ideograms, which represent ideas.

The New York Times

But Britain had been largely deforested by 4000BC – contrary to commonly held myths about shipbuilding and ironworks removing our woodlands.

The Guardian - Opinion

The Graduate Management Admissions Council (GMAC), however, suggests that women may be discouraged from studying an MBA because of some commonly held myths - that it is too analytical or mathematical, highly competitive and leads to a career that is too demanding.

The Guardian

On the basis of our combined 30 years of researching, building, and leveraging brand communities, we identify and dispel seven commonly held myths about maximizing their value for a firm.

Harvard Business Review

India's elections are a good time to test commonly held myths and beliefs.

BBC

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the phrase "commonly held myth", ensure that you provide evidence or reasoning to debunk or challenge the myth. Simply stating that something is a "commonly held myth" without further explanation is insufficient.

Common error

Avoid assuming that your audience is already familiar with the specific "commonly held myth" you are referencing. Briefly explain the myth before debunking it to ensure clarity and prevent confusion.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "commonly held myth" functions as a noun phrase, typically used as a subject complement or object in a sentence. It identifies a specific type of belief: one that is widely accepted but ultimately untrue. As Ludwig AI explains, this phrase is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Academia

33%

Science

33%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "commonly held myth" is a grammatically sound and recognizable noun phrase used to denote a widely accepted belief that is, in reality, false. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage. Predominantly found in news, academic, and scientific sources, the phrase serves as an introduction to a counter-argument, challenging the veracity of the said "commonly held myth". When employing this phrase, it's vital to ensure clarity by briefly explaining the myth to the audience before debunking it with supporting evidence. Alternatives include "widespread fallacy", "popular misconception", and "prevailing untruth".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Widely believed myth

Emphasizes that the myth is widely believed, adding a slight shift in focus.

Popular misconception

Combines "popular" and "misconception" to convey a widely held but incorrect belief.

Prevailing misconception

Replaces "myth" with "misconception", highlighting the incorrect nature of the belief.

Widespread fallacy

Substitutes "myth" with "fallacy", emphasizing the logical flaw in the belief.

Established misconception

Suggests that the misconception has been around for a while.

Conventional fallacy

Implies that the fallacy is followed by the conventional mindset of most people.

Popular delusion

Replaces "myth" with "delusion", suggesting a stronger level of falseness and potential irrationality.

Generally held illusion

Replaces "myth" with "illusion", suggesting a deceptive appearance or impression.

Commonly accepted falsehood

Replaces "myth" with "falsehood" and adds "accepted" for emphasis.

Prevailing untruth

Replaces "myth" with "untruth", directly stating the lack of truth in the belief.

FAQs

What is the meaning of "commonly held myth"?

A "commonly held myth" is a belief or idea that is widely accepted as true, but is in fact false or unsupported by evidence. It's a widespread misconception that many people believe.

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

You can use it to introduce a statement that you intend to disprove. For example: "It is a "commonly held myth" that the Earth is flat, but scientific evidence proves otherwise."

What are some alternatives to "commonly held myth"?

Alternatives include "widespread fallacy", "popular misconception", or "prevailing untruth". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it always appropriate to use the term "commonly held myth"?

It is appropriate when you are directly addressing and disproving a false belief. However, avoid using it if you are simply stating a fact without challenging a specific misconception. In those cases, a more neutral term like "belief" or "idea" might be more suitable.