not so common

USAGE SUMMARY

"not so common" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to something that is less frequent than usual, or when expressing a comparative degree. For example: "While certain myths are fairly common, others are not so common and can be harder to trace to their original source."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Not so common, no.

The New Yorker

That's not so common nowadays".

The New York Times - Sports

Not so common?

The Washington Post

"But these things are not so common in Thai cooking".

The New York Times

If it were not so common, it would be laughable.

The New York Times

Not so common a name, though, so who knows?

The New Yorker

That's not so common these days, Mr. Glendening said.

The New York Times - Arts

Instances of [*866] entire sentences quoted are not so common, though there are several of them.

Stanford University

Restraint is not so common on television mini-series that it should go unrewarded.

The New York Times

But it's not so common to find decapitated ­horses and ritualistically murdered archaeology students.

The New York Times - Books

Similar deals exist in some Argentina restaurants too, although they are not so common.

The Guardian - Travel

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "not so common" consider adding additional context to provide a frame of reference. It allows the readers to understand why you consider it not so common.

Common error

While "not so common" is acceptable, excessive use can make your writing sound less precise. In formal contexts, consider stronger synonyms like "infrequent" or "uncommon" for clarity and impact.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "not so common" functions as a degree modifier, specifically an adjective phrase that modifies a noun or pronoun. It indicates the extent to which something lacks the quality of being common. According to Ludwig, it is perfectly acceptable and usable in writing.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

63%

Science

18%

Academia

5%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Formal & Business

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "not so common" is a grammatically correct and versatile phrase used to indicate that something is less frequent than usual. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's a perfectly acceptable expression. While it can be used in various contexts, it is most frequently found in news and media, and scientific writing. Alternatives such as "uncommon" or "infrequent" might be more suitable for formal writing where precision is key. When using "not so common", it's important to provide sufficient context to ensure clarity. Overall, this phrase offers a nuanced way to describe the relative infrequency of something.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

relatively uncommon

Emphasizes a comparison to what is generally considered common.

comparatively infrequent

Stresses the infrequency in relation to something else.

somewhat rare

Indicates a slightly stronger degree of infrequency than "not so common".

not particularly frequent

Focuses on the lack of frequency rather than a direct comparison.

scarcely encountered

Emphasizes the rarity of finding or experiencing something.

less widespread

Highlights a limited distribution or prevalence.

rather atypical

Highlights that something is not typical or representative.

distinctly unusual

Suggests a deviation from the norm to a noticeable extent.

unusual to a degree

States directly that something is unusual but without strong emphasis.

moderately exceptional

Implies that something is above average but not extraordinary.

FAQs

How can I use "not so common" in a sentence?

You can use "not so common" to describe something that occurs less frequently than something else, such as, "While certain side effects are fairly common, others are "not so common" and may require medical attention."

What are some alternatives to "not so common"?

Depending on the context, alternatives to "not so common" include "uncommon", "infrequent", "rare", or "atypical".

Is it better to use "uncommon" or "not so common"?

Both "uncommon" and "not so common" are grammatically correct, but "uncommon" is more direct. "Not so common" can add a nuance of understatement, but use it judiciously to avoid weakening your writing. If you want to sound more precise, avoid this type of construction.

What is the difference between "rare" and "not so common"?

"Rare" indicates something that occurs very infrequently. "Not so common" suggests something that is less frequent than average, but does not necessarily qualify as rare. It's a matter of degree and emphasis. In other words, "rare" means not easily found; "not so common" refers to something that is present but less frequent.