it was commonly

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "it was commonly" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe something that was widely accepted or practiced in the past. Example: "In the early 20th century, it was commonly believed that the earth was flat."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Until the 1920s it was commonly supposed that mathematics had its birth among the ancient Greeks.

Encyclopedia Britannica

It was commonly referred to as the Me 109 after its designer, Willy Messerschmitt.

Encyclopedia Britannica

It was commonly referred to as the United Provinces or its acronym UP.

Wikipedia

It was commonly called "rabbit fever".

The New Yorker

"It was commonly held," he writes, "that the underground railroad did not operate this far south".

The New Yorker

Before the second world war, it was commonly believed that the best art came from France.

The Economist

It was commonly thought that the point of lingerie was to incite the lust of men.

The New York Times

In other words, it was commonly believed that the world is unpredictable because it is complicated.

Encyclopedia Britannica

At the unveiling, it was commonly noted that no one from the federal government had been invited to participate.

The New York Times - Arts

I.C.G., as it was commonly referred to, invested money in other Internet companies and helped them to prepare for I.P.O.s.

The New Yorker

Many neighbors said it was commonly known that Ulysses suffered from autism; city officials said he had a severe form.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "it was commonly" to introduce a historical context or a viewpoint that was prevalent at a specific time but may not be true today. This helps to frame the discussion and show how perspectives have evolved.

Common error

Avoid using "it was commonly" without providing sufficient evidence or context. Ensure that the statement reflects a genuine consensus or widespread practice, rather than a personal assumption or a minority viewpoint. Otherwise, it will sound presumptuous.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it was commonly" functions as an introductory clause that sets the stage for stating a belief, practice, or understanding that was prevalent at some point in the past. As Ludwig AI confirms, this usage is both grammatically correct and frequent.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

39%

Encyclopedias

15%

Science

29%

Less common in

Wiki

12%

Formal & Business

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "it was commonly" is a grammatically sound and frequently used introductory clause that sets the stage for discussing past beliefs or practices. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, this phrase is effective for providing context and contrasting historical perspectives with present-day knowledge. While its register is typically neutral, it is often found in formal contexts such as encyclopedias, news articles, and scientific publications. When using "it was commonly", ensure you provide sufficient evidence or context to avoid overgeneralizations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it was generally believed

Replaces "commonly" with "generally believed", focusing on the widespread acceptance of an idea.

it was widely known

Substitutes "commonly" with "widely known", emphasizing the broad awareness of a fact.

it was a common belief

Restructures the sentence to highlight the "belief" itself as common, rather than the act of knowing.

it was typical to

Shifts the focus to the typicality of an action or behavior.

people usually

Emphasizes the frequency of an action performed by people.

it was the norm

Replaces "commonly" with "the norm", indicating a standard practice or expectation.

it was standard practice

Highlights the standardization of a procedure or method.

it was often the case

Focuses on the frequency with which a situation or event occurred.

it was frequently observed

Emphasizes the regular observation of a phenomenon or trend.

the general consensus was

Highlights agreement, moving the sentence from the concept of "commonly" to that of "consensus".

FAQs

How can I use "it was commonly" in a sentence?

The phrase "it was commonly" introduces a belief, practice, or understanding that was widespread at some point in the past. For example, "It was commonly believed that the Earth was flat before scientific advancements proved otherwise."

What are some alternatives to saying "it was commonly"?

You can use phrases like "it was widely known", "it was generally believed", or "it was typical to" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "it was commonly" formal or informal?

"It was commonly" is generally considered neutral in tone and can be used in both formal and informal contexts. The overall formality depends more on the surrounding language and the specific context of the sentence.

What's the difference between "it was commonly" and "it is commonly"?

"It was commonly" refers to a past belief or practice, while "it is commonly" refers to a current belief or practice. For example, "It was commonly thought that smoking was harmless" (past) versus "It is commonly known that smoking is harmful" (present).