par for the course

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "par for the course" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
The phrase is used to mean something is expected and unsurprising, typically something that is not desirable or unpleasant. For example, "The long wait times were par for the course when dealing with that company."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"Par for the course".

The New York Times - Sports

Just par for the course.

The New York Times

Auditory delights are par for the course.

The New York Times

Par for the course in Naples.

The New York Times - Travel

That is par for the course.

The New Yorker

That secrecy is par for the course.

The New York Times

This was par for the course.

Independent

That would be par for the course.

The Economist

Volatility is par for the course.

The Economist

This was about par for the course.

The Washington Post

Such threats are par for the course.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "par for the course" when you want to convey that a negative or undesirable outcome is typical or expected in a particular situation. It's particularly effective when highlighting a recurring problem or systemic issue.

Common error

Avoid using "par for the course" in situations where you want to express genuine surprise or approval. The phrase inherently carries a sense of resigned acceptance, often implying a negative or undesirable situation is typical.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "par for the course" functions as an idiomatic expression used to describe something that is typical, expected, or unsurprising in a given situation. Ludwig AI confirms that this is a correct and usable phrase in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

54%

Formal & Business

15%

Science

12%

Less common in

Academia

2%

Reference

3%

Social Media

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "par for the course" is a common idiomatic expression used to indicate that something is typical or expected, often in a negative context. According to Ludwig AI, it is grammatically correct and widely used. It functions to convey a sense of resignation or acceptance of a recurring, often undesirable, situation. While suitable for neutral registers like news and general conversation, it's less appropriate for formal academic or scientific writing, where precision is paramount. Alternatives such as "typical" or "as expected" may be more suitable in those contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

to be expected

Uses a passive construction to convey anticipation of an event.

as expected

Substitutes the phrase with a simpler statement of anticipation.

unsurprising

Conveys the lack of astonishment at an event.

what one would expect

A more verbose way to state that something is not surprising.

typical

Replaces the idiomatic expression with a single adjective indicating common occurrence.

the norm

Replaces the idiomatic expression with a concise noun indicating a standard.

nothing unusual

Replaces the idiom with a phrase that emphasizes the lack of surprise.

in line with expectations

Highlights that an outcome matches prior beliefs or predictions.

standard practice

Emphasizes that something is a normal or customary procedure.

business as usual

Indicates that events are proceeding normally, often despite disruptions.

FAQs

How can I use "par for the course" in a sentence?

You can use "par for the course" to indicate that something is typical or expected, often in a negative context. For example, "Delays are "to be expected" when dealing with this department; it's "par for the course"".

What's a more formal alternative to "par for the course"?

While "par for the course" is generally acceptable, more formal alternatives include "typical", "as expected", or "standard practice", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "par for the course" always negative?

The phrase "par for the course" typically implies a negative or undesirable situation is normal or expected. While it's not inherently negative, it's usually used in contexts where something less than ideal is occurring. It would be unusual to use it in a positive context.

What's the origin of the phrase "par for the course"?

The phrase "par for the course" originates from golf, where "par" represents the expected number of strokes a skilled golfer should take to complete a hole or course. When something is "par for the course", it means it's what you'd typically expect, or the standard outcome.