it is not that common

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "it is not that common" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to indicate that something is relatively rare or infrequent in a particular context. Example: "While many people enjoy hiking, it is not that common for them to go on multi-day treks."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

It is not that common.

The New York Times - Food

It is not that common for well-known actors to undertake a major theatrical role these days.

The New York Times

"But it is not that common that communities will be so aggressive as to literally take the property away," he said.

The New York Times

It is not that common for a big-voiced dramatic soprano to combine such easy power with such alluring vocal beauty.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

Is that it?" It isn't that common to care enough about characters in contemporary drama, to wonder what would become of them.

Huffington Post

Maybe it isn't that common?

Independent

Too bad it isn't that common.

WikiHow

I'm sure some of you have — especially those who live on the Florida coast — but it really isn't that common.

TechCrunch

It really isn't that common".

Vice

Working for your father in a big corporation isn't that common, and it's not always easy.

The New York Times

Memoir coaching isn't that common, but it's what I do and there are few great people out there who are willing to be your personal writing cheerleader, editor and companion from start to finish.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "it is not that common" to express that something is less frequent than generally expected, but not entirely unheard of. This phrasing is suitable for providing context or managing expectations.

Common error

Avoid using "it is not that common" when something is genuinely unheard of or impossible. Reserve this phrase for situations where the occurrence is simply infrequent, not nonexistent.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it is not that common" functions as an adverbial phrase that modifies a verb or adjective by indicating the degree to which something is common or frequent. Ludwig AI confirms that it is grammatically correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Wiki

15%

Science

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

1%

Formal & Business

1%

Reference

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "it is not that common" is a grammatically sound phrase used to indicate that something is relatively infrequent but not entirely absent. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability. It's suitable for a variety of contexts, particularly in news, general writing, and scientific discourse. Remember to reserve its usage for describing infrequent occurrences, rather than non-existent scenarios. Alternatives like "it is uncommon" or "it is rare" can be used for similar effect, depending on the nuance you wish to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it isn't very frequent

Changes the structure and vocabulary to emphasize infrequency.

it's relatively rare

Replaces "not that common" with "relatively rare" maintaining a similar level of formality.

it's somewhat unusual

Substitutes "not that common" with "somewhat unusual", highlighting the uncommon nature of something.

it's not particularly widespread

Focuses on the lack of widespread occurrence.

it's an uncommon occurrence

Transforms the phrase into a noun-based expression.

it's atypical

Replaces the entire phrase with a single adjective.

it's out of the ordinary

Uses a more descriptive expression to convey uncommonness.

it's exceptional

Emphasizes that something is an exception to the norm.

it's seldom seen

Highlights the infrequency of observation.

it's a rarity

Presents the concept as a rare instance or phenomenon.

FAQs

What does "it is not that common" mean?

The phrase "it is not that common" means something does not occur very often, implying it is somewhat rare or unusual but not entirely absent.

How can I use "it is not that common" in a sentence?

You can use "it is not that common" to indicate that a particular event, characteristic, or behavior is not frequently observed. For example: "While many people enjoy hiking, "it is not that common" for them to go on multi-day treks."

Which is a better alternative to "it is not that common", "it is rare" or "it is unusual"?

The best alternative depends on the nuance you want to convey. "It is rare" suggests infrequency, while "it is unusual" emphasizes deviation from the norm. Both are suitable replacements for "it is not that common".

What are some phrases similar to "it is not that common"?

Similar phrases include "it is uncommon", "it is unusual", "it is infrequent", and "it is rare". These alternatives all express that something does not happen often.