in common with

USAGE SUMMARY

"in common with" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it when you are comparing two or more things and want to indicate that the two share something in common. For example, "The small island nation of Palau and the United States have a lot in common with regards to their emphasis on protecting the environment."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Film

Books

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

FISHERMEN have something in common with cowboys.

The Economist

I have nothing in common with them.

Independent

"I had nothing in common with them.

The New York Times - Health

What William S. Burroughs has in common with Don Draper.

The New Yorker

I had everything in common with them.

The New York Times

'I've nothing in common with Ben Chase.

The Guardian - Film

Rome has little in common with Rabat.

The Guardian - Travel

Montauk has little in common with Sagaponack.

The New York Times

They share nothing in common with nobody.

University of California, Berkeley

I have nothing in common with Harriet.

Princeton University

Nothing in common with Vince Coleman.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When comparing multiple entities, use "in common with" to clearly highlight shared attributes. For example: "Both cats and dogs, in common with many mammals, possess a highly developed sense of smell."

Common error

Avoid using "common for" when you mean to express shared traits between subjects. "Common for" describes what is typical within a group, while "in common with" highlights shared aspects across different groups or entities. For instance, it is correct to say, "Caring about children is common for teachers." But if you mean, "Teachers and nurses share the attribute of caring about children," it should be expressed as, "Teachers, in common with nurses, care about children."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "in common with" primarily functions as a prepositional phrase used to introduce a comparison, highlighting a shared attribute or characteristic between two or more subjects. Ludwig confirms this usage through numerous examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

52%

Academia

21%

Formal & Business

9%

Less common in

Science

9%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "in common with" is a versatile prepositional phrase used to highlight shared attributes between subjects. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and frequent usage across various contexts. It's essential to use this phrase when you want to draw attention to similarities between different entities and prevent confusion with phrases like "common for". Key alternatives include "similar to" and "sharing similarities with", offering nuanced ways to express resemblance. The phrase is most commonly found in news and media, academic writing, and formal business communications.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

similar to

A direct and straightforward way to express resemblance between two or more things.

comparable to

Emphasizes the ability to compare two or more things due to shared qualities.

sharing similarities with

Focuses on the act of sharing characteristics, highlighting the common traits between subjects.

akin to

Implies a resemblance or similarity in nature or quality, often used for more abstract comparisons.

bearing resemblance to

Emphasizes the visible or noticeable similarities between subjects.

resembling

Highlights the visual or superficial similarities between subjects.

corresponding to

Focuses on a direct relationship or match between two or more things.

analogous to

Suggests a parallel or correspondence, often used in more formal or technical contexts.

consistent with

Highlights a lack of contradiction, implying shared attributes or behaviors.

in line with

Indicates agreement or conformity, suggesting a shared direction or alignment.

FAQs

How do I use "in common with" in a sentence?

Use "in common with" to highlight shared attributes between two or more subjects. For example, "Elephants, "in common with" humans, exhibit complex social behaviors" demonstrates that both elephants and humans share this trait.

What's a simple alternative to "in common with"?

A simple alternative is "similar to". For example, instead of saying "This policy, in common with others, aims to reduce waste" you can say "This policy is similar to others."

Is it correct to say "have in common with" or "has in common with"?

The correct form depends on the subject's number. Use "have in common with" for plural subjects, and "has in common with" for singular subjects. For example, "They have much "in common with" each other", but "He has something "in common with" her".

What is the difference between "in common with" and "common among"?

"In common with" highlights shared traits between different entities, while "common among" indicates traits shared within a specific group. For example, "Dogs, "in common with" cats, are popular pets" shows a similarity between two species. "Loyalty is common among dogs" describes a shared trait within the dog species.