it was common knowledge that

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "it was common knowledge that" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to indicate that a particular piece of information is widely known or accepted by a group of people. Example: "It was common knowledge that the meeting would be rescheduled due to the holiday."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Teresa Jones, a deputy district attorney for Etowah County in the early eighties, told CNN last week that "it was common knowledge that Roy dated high-school girls".

The New Yorker

One executive from the big US arms company Lockheed told the author Anthony Sampson that, as far as well-placed businessmen in the 60s were concerned, "it was common knowledge that the prince was on the take".

The Guardian

Teresa Jones, a former colleague of Moore's in the district attorney's office, told CNN that "it was common knowledge that Roy Moore dated high-school girls".

Vice

She described how it was common knowledge that Savile would make "advances".

The Guardian

She said it was common knowledge that A.I.G. was eliminating jobs in that division.

The New York Times

"Back then, it was common knowledge that everyone was getting high," said Ms. Forbes, a photographer.

The New York Times

In Ancient Greece, it was common knowledge that the goddess Athena had invented the loom.

The Guardian

Some doctors said it was common knowledge that Latisse was easily available without a prescription.

The New York Times - Health

These are mostly older people, who started smoking years before it was common knowledge that the habit could kill them.

The New York Times

However, it was common knowledge that McClaren was the FA's second choice behind the Brazilian Luiz Felipe Scolari.

The Guardian - Sport

It was common knowledge that the agency would have to rely on an enormous amount of borrowing.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "it was common knowledge that" to establish shared understanding or context before presenting a related point. This can help build rapport with your audience.

Common error

Avoid starting multiple consecutive sentences with "it was common knowledge that". Vary your sentence structure to maintain reader engagement and prevent monotony. Use synonyms or rephrase sentences to convey the same meaning more dynamically.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it was common knowledge that" functions as a clause introducer. It sets the stage for a statement by indicating that the information being presented was already widely known or accepted. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's considered grammatically correct and usable.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

72%

Academia

15%

Wiki

8%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Science

1%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "it was common knowledge that" is a grammatically correct and frequently used expression to introduce information widely known or accepted. As Ludwig AI validates, it effectively sets the stage for shared understanding, particularly in news and media contexts. While versatile, varying sentence structure with alternatives like "everyone knew that" or "it was generally known that" can prevent redundancy. Use it to provide context and background, and remember that its formality may need adjustment depending on the audience and writing type.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it was generally known that

Replaces "common knowledge" with "generally known", keeping the overall meaning intact.

everyone knew that

Simplifies the phrase to emphasize universal awareness.

it was widely understood that

Substitutes "common knowledge" with "widely understood", focusing on comprehension.

it was no secret that

Indicates the information was not confidential or hidden.

it was public knowledge that

Highlights that the information was accessible to the public.

it was an open secret that

Suggests the knowledge was widespread but not explicitly discussed.

it was a given that

Implies the information was taken for granted.

the word on the street was that

An idiomatic expression suggesting widespread rumor or gossip.

it was the talk of the town that

Similar to "word on the street" but emphasizes local gossip.

people were saying that

Attributes the knowledge to general hearsay or common report.

FAQs

How can I use "it was common knowledge that" in a sentence?

Use "it was common knowledge that" to introduce information widely known before presenting a specific detail or consequence. For instance, "It was common knowledge that the company was struggling, so the layoffs didn't surprise anyone."

What are some alternatives to "it was common knowledge that"?

You can use alternatives like "everyone knew that", "it was generally known that", or "it was widely understood that" depending on the context.

Is it appropriate to use "it was common knowledge that" in formal writing?

Yes, "it was common knowledge that" is suitable for formal writing, especially when establishing context or referring to widely accepted facts. However, avoid overuse and consider alternatives for variety. The level of formality also depends on the source where the text would be published.

What's the difference between "it was common knowledge that" and "it is common knowledge that"?

"It was common knowledge that" refers to a past situation where the information was widely known. "It is common knowledge that" indicates something currently widely known.