more common than not

USAGE SUMMARY

"more common than not" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It is used to compare two things, usually two ways of behaving or states of being, to demonstrate that one is more prevalent than the other. For example, "Lying is more common than not in today's society."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

31 human-written examples

"It's very common — more common than not".

The New York Times

Divided government in itself isn't unusual and is, in fact, more common than not.

The New York Times

Roads are becoming navigable, electricity is more common than not and telephone service now connects the entire country.

The New York Times

Both academic research and anecdotal observation on man/machine interfaces suggest raised voices and vulgar comments are more common than not.

Harvard Business Review

As Simon Copland wrote in February, among Generation Y "it increasingly feels as though anxiety disorders are more common than not".

The Guardian

In a scenario that Gene Upshaw, the executive director of the players association, said was more common than not, a player buys a supplement with no banned substances on the label.

The New York Times - Sports

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

29 human-written examples

These certificates are more common than ever, not least because when they're not incredibly cheap, they're completely free — and most modern browsers these days will bluntly tell you when a website is "not secure".

TechCrunch

Elevated sleep-time BP, i.e., sleep-time hypertension, which can only be diagnosed by around-the-clock ABPM, is much more common than suspected, not only in patients with sleep disorders, but, among others, in those who are elderly or have type 2 diabetes, chronic kidney disease, or resistant hypertension.

Sleep Medicine Reviews

Knut is the first non-human subject in which anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis has been demonstrated, and in their paper, published in the journal Scientific Reports, the researchers say it is very probably far more common than previously assumed - not just in captive or domesticated animals, but also in the wild.

BBC

It's hard to write a "how not to be post" without it seeming shaming, but really, like I said, these kinds of behaviors are more common than they are not.

Huffington Post

A good comment thread is a joy to read – and more common than the "don't read the comments" detractors believe.

The Guardian - Tech

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "more common than not", ensure that you are comparing two distinct possibilities or scenarios, clearly indicating which one is more prevalent.

Common error

Avoid using "more common than not" when referring to situations where statistical data is available; instead, use specific data to be precise and avoid generalizations that might not be entirely accurate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "more common than not" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb or clause to indicate the relative frequency or prevalence of something. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage. It essentially communicates that a certain situation or event is typical or usual.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

69%

Science

25%

Formal & Business

6%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "more common than not" is a phrase used to express that something is generally the case or happens more frequently than not. Ludwig AI validates it as a correct and usable expression. It is prevalent in contexts such as news and media, as well as scientific writing. While there are alternative phrases like "generally the case" and "more often the rule than the exception", the phrase "more common than not" effectively communicates a sense of typicality or expectation, and it helps to manage potentially inaccurate generalisations by offering a nuanced perspective on frequency. Being precise in its use and avoiding overgeneralizations are best practices.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

more the norm than not

This slight variation emphasizes the prevalence of a certain standard or pattern.

more often the rule than the exception

This phrase highlights that something is typical rather than unusual, emphasizing its prevalence.

mostly the case

This alternative conveys that something is true or applicable in the majority of instances.

generally the case

This alternative conveys a sense of typicality or usual occurrence, focusing on what usually happens.

typically the reality

This expression suggests that something is the standard or expected state of affairs.

predominantly the situation

This option indicates that a particular situation is the most common or prevailing one.

usually the scenario

This alternative points out that a specific scenario is the most frequent or habitual.

customarily the norm

This phrase indicates that something is the accepted standard or practice.

commonly found

This shorter alternative focuses directly on the frequent occurrence of something.

widely seen

This expression suggests that something is frequently observed or encountered.

FAQs

How can I use "more common than not" in a sentence?

Use "more common than not" to indicate that something happens more frequently than its alternative. For example, "In this region, rainy days are "more common than not"."

What are some alternatives to "more common than not"?

You can use alternatives like "usually the case", "typically the norm", or "generally speaking" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "more common than often"?

No, "more common than often" is not a standard or grammatically sound phrase. A better alternative is "more often than not" or simply "more common".

What's the difference between "more common than not" and "more often than not"?

While similar, "more common than not" emphasizes that something is generally the case, whereas "more often than not" highlights the frequency with which something occurs. The choice depends on whether you want to stress prevalence or frequency.