communally

USAGE SUMMARY

"communally" is a correct and usable word in written English.
It is an adverb that means "in a way that involves more than one person or group." For example: The tenants of the apartment complex worked together communally to host a neighborhood barbecue.

✓ Grammatically correct

Encyclopedias

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Howard called for a "cooperative commonwealth" in which rises in property values would be shared by the community, open land would be communally held, and manufacturing and retail establishments would be clustered within a short distance of residences.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Intending to make Philadelphia the centre of Moravian activity, he founded the North American branch of the Unitas Fratrum there (1740), and at Bethlehem, Pa., he established a community in which work was done and goods were held communally.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Ejido, in Mexico, village lands communally held in the traditional Indian system of land tenure that combines communal ownership with individual use.

Encyclopedia Britannica

"He was so taken with what it was like to live communally that he decided to set up a housing association so that people with varying kinds of needs could live together and help each other," said Chris Murphy, who lives at the second commune, the Crescent Road Community in Kingston upon Thames, home to 21 adults and three children.

The Guardian

Cooking is done communally, and essential maintenance duties are also performed by students.

The Guardian

At the moment, 40% of the territory's land is run communally by aboriginal land councils.

The Economist

Such evenings were brought to a fitting climax, as it were, when they would communally ejaculate into a ceremonial pewter platter.

The Economist

Because farms are smaller and more densely packed, irrigation ditches, flood protection, roads and indeed sanitation must be dealt with communally.

The Economist

If terrorism and indiscriminate violence are to be eliminated from Iraqi society, then Iraqis will have to show their determination to remove it by supporting their security forces, rejecting the presence among them of the enemies of a free Iraq and developing the ideology of a unified rather than a communally divided country.

The Economist

Patrons quickly learned to dunk a cooked item in the goo afterwards, if at all.Grilling food communally over an open pit is one of the most enjoyable of human rituals.

The Economist

The settlers are not always keen on the MST's exhortations to abjure pesticides and live communally, the authors note, but that does not lead them to question the movement's conflicting notions.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "communally" to emphasize the shared nature of an activity or resource, such as "communally owned land" or "communally organized events".

Common error

Avoid using "communally" when you simply mean 'together' or 'collectively' without the specific implication of shared ownership or responsibility. "Together" might describe people walking side-by-side, while "communally" would describe them maintaining a shared garden.

Linguistic Context

The word "communally" functions as an adverb, modifying verbs to describe how an action is performed in a shared or collective manner. As Ludwig AI confirms, it signifies actions affecting or involving a community or group. Examples show its use in describing shared living arrangements or management of resources.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Encyclopedias

36%

News & Media

56%

Science

8%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "communally" is a versatile adverb used to describe actions, resources, or responsibilities that are shared by a community or group. As Ludwig AI confirms, it denotes a collective or shared nature. Its usage is prevalent in both news media and encyclopedic contexts, indicating a neutral to formal register. When using "communally", ensure you are emphasizing the shared aspect accurately; otherwise, alternatives like "collectively", "jointly", or "collaboratively" might be more appropriate. The term appears across various authoritative sources like the Encyclopedia Britannica and The Economist highlighting its correct usage and consistent meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

collectively

Focuses on the action being done by a group as a whole, emphasizing the unified nature of the effort.

jointly

Highlights that the action is done together, implying shared responsibility or ownership.

collaboratively

Emphasizes the cooperative aspect of the action, suggesting a working-together dynamic.

cooperatively

Similar to collaboratively, but can also imply a more voluntary or harmonious collaboration.

in a shared manner

More descriptive and less concise, but emphasizes the sharing aspect.

by the community

Highlights the role of the community as the agent of the action.

as a group

A simple and direct way to indicate that the action is done together.

in unison

Suggests a high degree of coordination and agreement in the action.

with shared resources

Emphasizes that the action is supported by resources that are available to all participants.

through mutual effort

Highlights the reciprocal contributions that make the action possible.

FAQs

How is "communally" used in a sentence?

"Communally" describes actions or possessions shared by a community. For instance, "They lived "communally" in a shared house" or "The village managed its resources "communally"".

What's the difference between "communally" and "collectively"?

"Collectively" refers to a group acting together, whereas "communally" implies shared ownership or resources in addition to joint action. You might "collectively" decide on a course of action, but "communally" share the expenses.

Are there situations where "communally" is not the right word?

Yes, if there's no shared ownership or responsibility, "communally" may be inappropriate. For example, if people are just working side-by-side on individual projects, "together" or "collaboratively" would be better choices.

What can I say instead of "communally"?

Depending on the context, you can use "collectively", "jointly", or "collaboratively" to express a similar meaning. The best alternative depends on whether you want to emphasize shared action, shared responsibility, or cooperation.