it's common to

USAGE SUMMARY

This phrase is correct and is typically used in written English.
You can use it to refer to something being commonly done or seen. Example sentence: It's common to see wild animals in this part of the forest.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

It's common to blame disadvantaged children's poor academic performance on their "environment".

The New York Times

"North Korea's army is huge, so it's common to see military workers on the streets.

The Guardian

It's common to do this at year's end.

Forbes

"It's common to give guarantees to lateral hires," he said.

The New York Times

It's common to see staff members clean a stationary bike.

The New York Times

"It's common to have close games," linebacker Antonio Pierce said.

The New York Times

Now it's common to see students in head scarves, although still not a majority.

The New Yorker

It's common to forget the "o" in a dot-com search, for instance.

The New York Times - Tech

It's common to everyone, regardless of the structure and location of his or her home.

The New Yorker

It's common to be misread by people who don't know you.

The New Yorker

In Cairo, it's common to hear people say that nothing has changed since the revolution.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "it's common to" when describing a widespread practice or belief, providing context to explain why it's typical. For instance, "It's common to tip 15-20% at restaurants in the US due to service expectations."

Common error

Avoid using "it's common to" without providing specific context or qualifiers. Saying "It's common to like pizza" is a broad statement that doesn't account for individual preferences. Instead, specify a group or situation: "It's common among teenagers to enjoy pizza."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it's common to" serves as an introductory expression to indicate that a particular action, behavior, or situation is typical or frequently observed. Ludwig AI confirms this usage across a wide variety of contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

48%

Wiki

26%

Science

12%

Less common in

Formal & Business

7%

Reference

4%

Encyclopedias

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "it's common to" is a versatile expression used to indicate that something is typical, frequent, or generally accepted. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is grammatically correct and widely used across various contexts, ranging from news and media to general-purpose sources like WikiHow. While it is suitable for neutral and informal settings, more formal alternatives can be considered for professional or scientific writing. When using "it's common to", it's best practice to provide context and avoid overgeneralizations to ensure clarity and accuracy. The most authoritative sources using this phrase include The New York Times, The Guardian, and Forbes, underscoring its prevalence in reputable publications.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it is typical to

Replaces "common" with "typical", emphasizing the characteristic nature of the action or situation.

it is usual to

Substitutes "common" with "usual", suggesting that the action is what generally happens.

it is standard practice to

Replaces the entire phrase with a more formal expression indicating an established procedure.

it's generally accepted to

Focuses on the widespread agreement or approval of an action.

it is often the case that

Offers a more verbose alternative, highlighting the frequency of the situation.

people usually

Shifts the focus to the people who perform the action, simplifying the structure.

it's a frequent occurrence to

Emphasizes the repetitive nature of the event, although it's slightly less natural.

it's not unusual to

Uses a double negative to express that the action is within the realm of expectation.

one often finds that

Presents a more detached, observational perspective.

it's par for the course to

Uses an idiom to indicate that something is to be expected, especially in a specific context.

FAQs

How can I use "it's common to" in a sentence?

Use "it's common to" to describe practices, beliefs, or occurrences that are widespread or typical. For example, "It's common to greet people with a handshake in many Western cultures."

What are some alternatives to "it's common to"?

Alternatives include phrases like "it is typical to", "it is usual to", or "it is standard practice to", depending on the context and desired level of formality.

Is there a difference between saying "it's common to" and "it's normal to"?

While similar, "it's common to" emphasizes frequency or widespread occurrence, whereas "it's normal to" suggests conformity to a standard or expectation. The choice depends on whether you want to highlight prevalence or typicality.

When is it appropriate to use "it's common to" in formal writing?

"It's common to" can be used in formal writing to describe established practices or trends, especially when providing context or explaining a phenomenon. However, consider more formal alternatives like "it is standard practice to" for greater formality.