not very common

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "not very common" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe something that is infrequently encountered or observed. Example: "While many people enjoy classical music, it's not very common among the younger generation."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Comets like ISON are not very common.

The Economist

"That is not very common in Brazil".

The New York Times

"That's not very common," Ms. Mehta said.

The New York Times

"The property tax abatement is not very common," she said.

The New York Times

His poetry is very direct, which is not very common in Greece.

The Guardian - Books

"He doesn't flip flop and that's something that's not very common these days".

The Guardian

Though not very common, this sort of re-appropriation actually has happened from time to time.

The Guardian - Opinion

He said: "This sort of travel is not very common but I'm surprised by the numbers".

The Guardian

Thunderbolt is one way of connecting a computer to a monitor, but it's not very common.

The Guardian - Tech

And ABCA7 was not very common, still leaving most Alzheimer's risk unexplained.

The New York Times - Health

It is not very common for policemen to disobey the orders of the ruling party.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "not very common", consider the specific context to determine if a more precise term like "rare" or "unusual" would be more appropriate.

Common error

While acceptable, relying heavily on "not very common" can make your writing sound less sophisticated. Vary your language by using synonyms such as "infrequent" or "atypical" to add nuance.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "not very common" functions as an adjectival phrase that modifies a noun. It indicates the degree to which something lacks prevalence. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

67%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "not very common" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression to denote something that occurs less often than average. Ludwig AI confirms its validity, and it appears across diverse sources, particularly in scientific and news-related contexts. While versatile, writers should consider more precise alternatives like "rare" or "unusual" to enhance the sophistication of their writing. When using "not very common", consider tailoring your language to the specific context to maximize clarity and impact.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

relatively uncommon

Replaces "not very" with "relatively", indicating a moderate degree of infrequency.

somewhat rare

Uses "somewhat" and "rare" to convey a sense of moderate scarcity.

not particularly frequent

Substitutes "common" with "frequent" and "very" with "particularly", altering the emphasis slightly.

rather unusual

Employs "rather" and "unusual" to denote something out of the ordinary.

not widely seen

Focuses on the lack of widespread observation.

infrequently encountered

Uses more formal vocabulary to indicate a low rate of occurrence.

seldom observed

Employs "seldom" and "observed" for a more formal tone.

occurs sporadically

Indicates irregular or intermittent appearance.

is the exception rather than the rule

Highlights that something deviates from what is typical.

deviates from the norm

Highlights that something deviates from what is typical.

FAQs

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

You can use "not very common" to describe something that is infrequently encountered. For instance, "While electric cars are gaining popularity, they're "not very common" compared to gasoline-powered vehicles".

What are some alternatives to "not very common"?

You can use alternatives like "rare", "unusual", or "infrequent" depending on the context.

Is it grammatically correct to say "not very common"?

Yes, "not very common" is grammatically correct. It's a standard way to express that something is not frequently observed or encountered.

What's the difference between "not very common" and "uncommon"?

"Not very common" implies a slightly lower frequency than simply saying "uncommon". The addition of "very" softens the statement, suggesting it's not exceedingly rare but less frequent than average.