ordinary instances

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "ordinary instances" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to common or typical occurrences in various contexts. Example: "In ordinary instances, people tend to follow established routines without much thought."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

Encyclopedias

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

Recently, the debate about the differences between delusion and self-deception has centred on whether delusions (just like ordinary instances of self-deception) are explicable from a folk-psychological point of view (Bortolotti and Mameli 2012; Murphy 2012, 2013).

SEP

Regular memory, then, would just be a subset of q-memory (applying to ordinary instances when I was the person to whom the remembered experience occurred), and q-memory could be the relevant relation incorporated into the theory of identity in a way that avoids Butler's objection.

SEP

To use a trivial sort of example, consider the sentence (M) The number of Martian moons is 2. According to Yablo, typical utterances of sentences like (M) are analogous to ordinary instances of figurative speech, e.g., sentences like (A) The average mum has 2.4 children.

SEP

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

Yet the settling of the Quraysh at Mecca was no ordinary instance of sedentarization.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Such readings, alas, have to employ the concept of "power" rather elastically, since the conglomeration of traits of higher human beings noted above don't seem to be, in any ordinary sense, instances of "power" or its manifestation.

SEP

So we say that the set A has measure μ(A) in much the same way as we say that a certain collection of points of ordinary space (for instance the ones that lie on the inside of a bottle) have a certain volume (for instance one litre).

SEP

In an ordinary brain, for instance, there are about 20bn neurons and each one makes on average 10,000 connections.

The Guardian

Ordinary pneumonia, for instance, remains the fourth most common cause of death in affluent countries, and the death rate has actually worsened in the past quarter century.

The New Yorker

As soon as authoritarianism breaks down, and a process of democratization begins, the vertical model is over and you enter a period of horizontality in which the opinions of the people — in this instance, ordinary Arabs — will matter".

The New York Times

In the consumer-driven market for classified advertising, for instance, ordinary people instinctively grasped the efficiencies of online sites such as Craigslist, thus causing a drop in classified revenues at newspapers.

The Economist

And if they did catch something out of the ordinary — pompano, for instance, pompano, dude; it's the most buttery, beautifully flavored fish ever — they would throw it away.

The New York Times - Travel

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "ordinary instances" when you want to emphasize that something is a common or typical occurrence, rather than something exceptional or unusual.

Common error

While "ordinary instances" is grammatically sound, avoid overusing it in highly formal or academic writing. Consider more precise alternatives like "typical cases" or "common examples" to enhance clarity and sophistication.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "ordinary instances" functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as the subject, object, or complement in a sentence. Ludwig examples show it referring to common or typical occurrences.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

60%

Encyclopedias

20%

News & Media

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "ordinary instances" is a noun phrase used to refer to common or typical occurrences. Ludwig AI analysis indicates it is grammatically correct and primarily used in science, encyclopedias, and news & media contexts. While the phrase is suitable for neutral to formal writing, more precise alternatives may be preferred in highly academic settings. Remember to use "ordinary instances" when you want to emphasize the commonality or typicality of something, rather than its exceptional nature. Related phrases include "common occurrences" and "typical examples".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

common occurrences

Focuses on the frequency and typicality of the events.

typical examples

Highlights the representative nature of the examples.

usual cases

Emphasizes the normalcy and lack of deviation from the expected.

standard situations

Suggests established and recognized scenarios.

routine events

Implies a predictable and repetitive nature.

everyday happenings

Focuses on events that are part of daily life.

normal incidents

Highlights that the incidents are within the range of what is expected.

general instances

Indicates broad applicability and commonality.

prevalent situations

Emphasizes how widespread or common the situations are.

average examples

Conveys that examples are neither exceptional nor unusual.

FAQs

How can I use "ordinary instances" in a sentence?

You can use "ordinary instances" to refer to common or typical occurrences. For example, "In "ordinary instances", people follow established routines."

What are some alternatives to "ordinary instances"?

Alternatives include "common occurrences", "typical examples", or "usual cases", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "instances of ordinary" instead of "ordinary instances"?

While "instances of ordinary" is grammatically correct, ""ordinary instances"" is more concise and commonly used to express the same idea.

What's the difference between "ordinary instances" and "common instances"?

Both phrases are similar, but ""ordinary instances"" emphasizes that something is typical and not exceptional, while "common instances" simply highlights that something occurs frequently.