ordinary components

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "ordinary components" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to standard or typical parts that make up a whole, often in technical or descriptive contexts. Example: "The machine is made up of several ordinary components that can be easily replaced if needed."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

This process is usually carried out using low intensity laser beams and ordinary components such as mirrors and optical fibers.

MIT Technology Review

The research goes well beyond current genetic engineering, which involves reshuffling the ordinary components of DNA or proteins into new combinations or moving DNA from one organism to another.

The New York Times - Science

Rather than seeing the ramp, the flexible work schedule, the audio book, or the visual display of words spoken at a meeting as "accommodations" to individual deficits, they can be seen as the ordinary components of Gliedman and Roth's (1980) inclusive society.

SEP

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

This baryonic, or ordinary, component of dark matter has been determined by measuring the abundance of elements heavier than hydrogen that were created in the first few minutes after the big bang occurred 13.8 billion years ago.

Encyclopedia Britannica

The timing has raised questions of whether the visit is an ordinary component of the new Greek government's multipronged foreign policy, or a pivot toward Russia for financial aid in the event that Greece's talks with European officials collapse.

The New York Times

This paper reviews the peculiarities of multicomponent metastable metallic alloys leading to the syntheses of bulk metallic glasses (BMGs), high entropy BMGs and pseudo high entropy BMGs which cannot be obtained for ordinary component alloys, in addition to the introduction of the features on structure, fundamental and engineering properties and applications for the first type BMGs.

Journal of Alloys and Compounds

In this framing, tacit knowledge is seen as a new, growing – and "alarming" – "trend", not an ordinary component of all knowledge production in scientific practice.

BioSocieties

There, computerized, transparent devices called holographic gratings diffract light in ways that ordinary optical components like prisms can't, steering it to the user's eyes.

The New York Times

They showed that it was possible to build a quantum computer out of ordinary optical components, such as mirrors, lenses, lasers, and so on.

MIT Technology Review

That's because it is hard to build even ordinary optical components into chip-like devices that can be scaled like conventional silicon chips.

MIT Technology Review

This allows continuous subsystems to be treated as ordinary discrete components within a discrete event system, without restrictions on the synchronization schedule.

University of California, Berkeley

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing technical specifications or assembly instructions, use "ordinary components" to clearly indicate that standard, readily available parts are required, avoiding the implication of specialized or custom-made elements.

Common error

Avoid using "ordinary components" when a higher degree of specificity is needed. For instance, specifying "standard resistors" or "common screws" provides more clarity than simply stating "ordinary components".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "ordinary components" functions as a noun phrase. It typically acts as a subject, object, or complement within a sentence, denoting standard or typical parts of a system or object. As seen in Ludwig, it often specifies the non-specialized nature of elements.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

60%

News & Media

30%

Encyclopedias

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "ordinary components" is a grammatically sound and generally acceptable term used to describe standard or typical parts. While not extremely frequent, as noted by Ludwig, it appears in diverse contexts such as science, news, and encyclopedias. The phrase's purpose is to communicate the readily available and non-specialized nature of the components. When writing, it's advisable to use "ordinary components" to clearly indicate that standard parts are required, while also avoiding over-generalization by providing more specific details when necessary. Ludwig provides some examples that are helpful to understand the variety of contexts where it can be used.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

standard parts

Replaces "ordinary" with "standard", focusing on the typical or expected nature of the components.

common elements

Substitutes "components" with "elements", emphasizing the basic building blocks.

typical constituents

Uses "typical" and "constituents" to highlight the usual and integral aspects of the parts.

conventional pieces

Replaces "ordinary" with "conventional", suggesting the established or accepted nature of the parts.

regular features

Emphasizes the recurring or expected attributes of the parts.

usual ingredients

Swaps "components" for "ingredients", often used when describing a mixture or recipe, either literally or figuratively.

basic units

Focuses on the fundamental nature of the components as the smallest or simplest parts.

run-of-the-mill items

Uses a more colloquial expression to denote the commonness and lack of special features.

stock elements

Implies that the components are readily available and commonly used.

garden-variety parts

Another colloquial term emphasizing the common and unremarkable nature of the components.

FAQs

What does "ordinary components" mean in technical writing?

In technical writing, "ordinary components" refers to standard, readily available parts that are not custom-made or specialized. They are the typical elements needed for a particular system or assembly.

What are some alternatives to "ordinary components"?

You can use alternatives like "standard parts", "common elements", or "typical constituents" depending on the context.

How do I use "ordinary components" in a sentence?

You might say, "The device is assembled using only ordinary components, making it easy to repair" or "The system relies on ordinary components for its functionality."

Is it correct to use "ordinary components" in a scientific paper?

Yes, it is correct, especially when you want to emphasize that the parts used are not specialized or experimental. However, ensure sufficient detail is provided for reproducibility. You could also use a more precise term when possible.