it is a common practice

USAGE SUMMARY

'it is a common practice' is correct and usable in written English.
You could use it to describe a habit or pattern that is regularly observed. For example: "It is a common practice in the hospitality industry to always greet guests with a smile."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

To assess the merit of a seizure detector, it is a common practice to compare its performance to some of the existing methods.

EURASIP Journal on Advances in Signal Processing

It is a common practice among Clem's friends.

The New Yorker

It is a common practice in rural areas.

The New York Times

It is a common practice to flow liquid and gas mixtures through such restriction devices.

Journal of Loss Prevention in the Process Industries

It is a common practice that women support each other through thick and thin.

The Guardian - Opinion

It is a common practice today to use artificial insemination to increase the fertility.

Cornell University

It is a common practice to test solar thermal and photovoltaic-thermal (PVT) collectors outdoors.

Solar Energy

Despite the uncertainty level in boundary values, it is a common practice to use deterministic values.

Computers & Fluids

It is a common practice to put a ringbeam at the junctions among these segments.

Structural Engineering, Mechanics and Computation Proceedings of the International Conference on Structural Engineering, Mechanics and Computation 2–4 April 2001, Cape Town, South Africa

It is a common practice to use steam to cure precast concrete products and concrete masonry blocks after casting.

Construction and Building Materials

Nowadays, she said, at Christmas it is a common practice to make gifts to charities in the name of journalists.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "it is a common practice", ensure the context clearly indicates who or what group engages in this practice, and why it's considered common. This adds clarity and strengthens your statement.

Common error

Avoid using "it is a common practice" without providing specific examples or supporting evidence. Overgeneralizing can weaken your argument and make your statement less credible.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it is a common practice" functions as an introductory expression to denote that a particular action, method, or behavior is widely and regularly performed or accepted. Ludwig confirms this usage through numerous examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

53%

News & Media

33%

Academia

5%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Wiki

2%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "it is a common practice" is widely used to denote actions or methods generally accepted within a particular field, as confirmed by Ludwig AI. Predominantly featured in scientific and news media contexts, its communicative purpose is to establish shared understanding and provide context. While grammatically sound, remember to avoid overgeneralization by providing specific examples. Consider using alternative phrases such as "it is standard practice" or "it is routine" for varied tones. "It is a common practice" serves as a foundational element in descriptive writing, offering readers insight into accepted norms.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

It is standard practice

Replaces "common" with "standard", suggesting an officially accepted or required way of doing things; slightly more formal.

It is a routine procedure

Substitutes "practice" with "procedure", emphasizing a set of actions regularly followed; implies established steps.

It is customary to

Uses "customary" to indicate something is done out of habit or tradition; implies a cultural aspect.

It's generally accepted that

Replaces the descriptive term with "generally accepted", suggesting a consensus or widespread agreement.

It is typical to

Uses "typical" to indicate that something is usually done, highlighting normalcy and expectation.

It is a widespread habit

Replaces practice with the word "habit", changing the expression in an informal tone.

It is normal practice

Employs "normal" to denote something being in accordance with the usual or expected; less emphasis on regulation than "standard".

It is frequently done

Uses the word "frequently" to indicate recurrence of an action.

It is a general tendency

Replaces practice with the words "general tendency", losing emphasis on the action.

It is a well-established norm

Substitutes with "well-established norm", giving it a sense of something already known.

FAQs

How can I use "it is a common practice" in a sentence?

You can use "it is a common practice" to introduce a widely accepted or frequently performed action or method. For instance, "It is a common practice in the software industry to conduct code reviews before deployment".

What phrases can I use instead of "it is a common practice"?

You can use alternatives like "it is standard practice", "it is routine", or "it is customary", depending on the specific context and nuance you wish to convey.

Is it better to say "it is a common practice" or "it's a common practice"?

Both "it is a common practice" and "it's a common practice" are grammatically correct and acceptable. The choice between them often depends on the desired level of formality. "It is" is generally considered more formal than "it's".

What is the difference between "it is a common practice" and "it was a common practice"?

"It is a common practice" suggests that something is currently widely done or accepted. "It was a common practice" indicates that something was widely done in the past, but may no longer be the case.