is the most common

USAGE SUMMARY

'is the most common' is a perfectly valid and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it to compare two or more objects or concepts and denote that one is more common or frequent than the others. For example: "Wearing jeans to Casual Friday at work is the most common dress choice for employees."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Which is the most common?

The New Yorker

This is the most common hypercorrection error.

The New York Times

Bay is the most common colour.

Encyclopedia Britannica

But dried is the most common form.

The New York Times - Magazine

"Libya Free" is the most common.

The New York Times

English is the most common second language.

Encyclopedia Britannica

So what is the most common violation?

The New York Times

The voyage charter is the most common.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Rolling is the most common metalworking process.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Yellow is the most common autumn color.

The New Yorker

Medication is the most common treatment.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "is the most common", ensure you are comparing items within the same category. For example, "Blue is the most common eye color" is valid because it compares different eye colors.

Common error

Avoid using "is the most common" without specifying the context. For example, instead of saying "This is the most common", specify "This is the most common mistake in this scenario."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "is the most common" serves as a comparative adjective phrase. It's used to identify the entity or attribute that appears with the greatest frequency within a specified set. As Ludwig AI indicates, this is a perfectly valid and usable phrase.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

35%

News & Media

25%

Wiki

23%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

9%

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "is the most common" is a versatile comparative phrase used to indicate the highest frequency or prevalence of something within a given context. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability. This phrase is frequently found in scientific literature, news articles, encyclopedias and Wiki, indicating its appropriateness for a wide range of writing styles. When using this phrase, be sure to provide specific context and avoid making vague comparisons. Alternatives such as "is the most frequent" or "is the most prevalent" can be used to add variety to your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

is the most frequent

Replaces "common" with "frequent", emphasizing how often something occurs.

is the most prevalent

Substitutes "common" with "prevalent", highlighting widespread existence.

is the most typical

Uses "typical" instead of "common", focusing on what is representative or standard.

is the most usual

Replaces "common" with "usual", indicating what occurs most often or is expected.

occurs most often

Rephrases the idea to focus on the occurrence rate, rather than a descriptive adjective.

is the most widespread

Emphasizes the broad distribution or reach of something.

is in the majority

Shifts the focus to numerical dominance or a larger proportion.

is the most often seen

Focuses on observation or visibility, rather than inherent commonality.

is the reigning

Implies current dominance or popularity, a more temporal sense of "common".

is the standard

Highlights that something represents the norm or accepted practice.

FAQs

How do I use "is the most common" in a sentence?

Use "is the most common" to indicate that something occurs more frequently than other comparable things. For example, "Sneezing is the most common symptom of a cold."

What can I say instead of "is the most common"?

You can use alternatives like "is the most frequent", "is the most prevalent", or "occurs most often" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Which is correct, "is the most common" or "is the commonest"?

"Is the most common" is generally preferred and more widely used in contemporary English. While "is the commonest" is grammatically valid, it is less frequently encountered.

What's the difference between "is common" and "is the most common"?

"Is common" indicates that something occurs frequently, while "is the most common" indicates it occurs more frequently than anything else in its category. For example, "Rain is common in April" versus "Rain is the most common form of precipitation in April".