essentially common

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "essentially common" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that is fundamentally or mostly shared among a group or category. Example: "The themes in these two novels are essentially common, reflecting similar societal issues."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

14 human-written examples

Although their collaboration did not result in any buildings, "he taught me that engineering is essentially common sense".

The New Yorker

But in antitrust, essentially common law constructed by judges from the Sherman Act's cryptic phrases, the strategy of avoidance "is not available," he said.

The New York Times

Few people will expend resources or risk life and limb to protect what is essentially common property, but most will fight to protect what is theirs.

The New Yorker

If you get really close to them, you'll see that the water is carried upward by what are essentially common New York apartment-building plumbing risers (18 inches in diameter, and occurring every 10 feet across).

The New York Times - Arts

The new rules require all banks to boost their core capital, essentially common shares and retained dividends, up to 7 percent of their assets — loans and other securities, weighted by their relative risk — from 2 percent today.

The New York Times

If the common good were the aggregate of individual goods, it would only be contingently, not essentially, common and, on that score, it would not be achieved in a way that will benefit all the individuals in a society.

SEP

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

46 human-written examples

It also established quadroon balls in which light-skinned black women were courted by white Louisiana men prepared for what were essentially common-law marriages under a system known as plaçage.

The New York Times - Arts

But the notion that a company like America Online, essentially a common carrier, has the right to read private e-mail is ludicrous.

The New York Times

Still, the joint ventures with G.M. to unify purchasing and power-train manufacturing in Europe and Latin America are progressing so smoothly that the two companies are developing what is "essentially a common platform" for high-end cars like G.M.'s Saab and Fiat's Alfa Romeo, said Stephan Weinmann, a spokesman for G.M. Europe.

The New York Times

Wikipedia was never an acceptable source, perhaps because my professors knew they'd get students like the one from the University of Maryland who, when "reprimanded for copying from Wikipedia… said he thought its entries — unsigned and collectively written — did not need to be credited since they counted, essentially, as common knowledge".

The New Yorker

And at the University of Maryland, a student reprimanded for copying from Wikipedia in a paper on the Great Depression said he thought its entries -- unsigned and collectively written -- did not need to be credited since they counted, essentially, as common knowledge.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "essentially common", ensure that you're highlighting a core, fundamental similarity rather than a superficial one. This emphasizes the primary unifying aspect.

Common error

Avoid using "essentially common" when there are significant differences alongside the similarities. Overstating the commonality can mislead the reader; instead, acknowledge the nuances.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "essentially common" functions as an adverb-adjective combination that modifies a noun or noun phrase. As Ludwig AI shows, it typically describes a characteristic that is fundamentally shared between multiple entities or concepts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

40%

News & Media

36%

Wiki

8%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "essentially common" is a phrase that effectively conveys the idea of a fundamental similarity between different entities or concepts. Ludwig AI analysis suggests the phrase is grammatically correct and suitable for formal, scientific, and neutral contexts, where highlighting core similarities is critical. While alternatives like "fundamentally similar" or "basically alike" exist, "essentially common" provides a concise way to express that the primary characteristic is shared, making it a useful tool in precise and clear communication. Remember to avoid overstating the degree of commonality, ensuring that the presence of "essentially common" is completely justified.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

fundamentally similar

Replaces "common" with "similar" and "essentially" with "fundamentally" to emphasize the basic similarity.

basically alike

Substitutes "essentially" with "basically" and "common" with "alike", indicating a primary similarity.

largely the same

Replaces the original phrase with one suggesting that the things being compared are mostly identical.

mainly uniform

Uses "mainly" in place of "essentially" and "uniform" in place of "common", indicating a high degree of consistency.

primarily shared

Replaces "essentially" with "primarily" and "common" with "shared", emphasizing the element of being collectively held or experienced.

inherently typical

This version suggests that the characteristic is a natural and intrinsic aspect of the thing in question, diverging slightly from the 'shared' aspect of "common".

in essence, typical

The phrase replaces 'essentially common' by describing what's typical in essence.

at heart, similar

Focuses on core similarity, suggesting a deeper, more fundamental level of sameness.

at bottom, unified

This alternative implies a fundamental unity or cohesion, shifting from the 'shared' aspect of "common" to a more structural concept.

for the most part, indistinguishable

Indicates that the items are mostly so similar that they cannot be told apart from each other.

FAQs

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

Use "essentially common" to describe characteristics, properties, or features that are fundamentally shared between different entities. For example, "The two approaches are "essentially common", despite their differing methodologies".

What phrases are similar to "essentially common"?

Alternatives include "fundamentally similar", "basically alike", or "largely the same". Choose the alternative that best fits the specific context and nuance you wish to convey.

Is it appropriate to use "essentially common" in formal writing?

Yes, "essentially common" is appropriate for formal writing. However, ensure it accurately reflects the degree of similarity you intend to convey. Consider alternatives like "fundamentally similar" for added emphasis in academic or scientific contexts.

What's the difference between "essentially common" and "largely common"?

"Essentially common" suggests a foundational similarity, while "largely common" indicates that the similarity is significant but not necessarily at the core. The choice depends on whether you want to emphasize the fundamental nature of the shared trait or its prevalence.