prevailing culture

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "prevailing culture" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to the dominant or most widespread cultural norms, values, or practices in a particular society or group at a given time. Example: "The prevailing culture in the workplace encourages collaboration and innovation among employees."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Too often, an organization's prevailing culture works against any attempt to transform corporate communication into a two-way affair.

Harvard Business Review

The Coalition has also been critical of aspects of the prevailing culture within the UK's diplomatic community.

Independent

Bhattacharjee told the court that the prevailing culture – in this case a heightened state of tension over Islamic terrorism – can often inform schizophrenics' delusions.

The Guardian

The menopause has a serious image problem and has been judged a shameful, guilty secret for sufferers amid a prevailing culture of disparagement and ignorance.

The Guardian - Opinion

"They turn the prevailing culture — where being smart isn't cool, where girls don't program computers, where inner-city kids don't get many engineering scholarships — on its head.

The New York Times

But that requires a change in the prevailing culture across higher education, in order to keep more brilliant young minds in academia.

The Guardian

In damning criticism of Britain's largest defence and arms company, Haddon-Cave says that question marks remain about BAE Systems' prevailing culture.

The Guardian

This goes further still, suggesting that the London bombings, and those who planted the bombs, were created and nourished by the prevailing culture.

The Guardian

Bhattacharjee told the court the prevailing culture – in this case a heightened state of tension over Islamic terrorism – could often inform schizophrenics' delusions.

The Guardian

That is because the prevailing culture no longer offers principled guidance or highbrow resistance.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

When polygamy was outlawed a century ago, Quinn said Mormon leaders vigorously embraced the ideals of the prevailing culture--Victorianism--to appear as normal as possible.

Los Angeles Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing organizational change, use "prevailing culture" to highlight the existing norms you're aiming to shift. This term helps frame the context for understanding the transformation.

Common error

Avoid using "prevailing culture" when you actually mean a subculture or niche community. "Prevailing culture" refers to the dominant norms shared widely, not smaller, specialized groups.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "prevailing culture" functions as a noun phrase modified by the adjective "prevailing". It identifies the dominant set of values, beliefs, and practices that are generally accepted within a specific society, organization, or group, as demonstrated by the numerous examples provided by Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

51%

Science

23%

Formal & Business

13%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "prevailing culture" is a frequently used and grammatically correct phrase that describes the dominant cultural norms in a given context. As confirmed by Ludwig, the phrase is versatile, appearing across various fields like news, science, and business. While alternatives such as "dominant culture" or "mainstream culture" exist, "prevailing culture" offers a nuanced way to discuss the existing cultural landscape and its impact. Remember to use it to describe widespread norms rather than niche subcultures. Overall, it's a valuable term for analyzing societal influences and understanding behavior within specific groups.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

dominant culture

Focuses on the idea of control or influence exerted by the culture.

mainstream culture

Highlights the most common and accepted cultural elements.

current cultural climate

Emphasizes the present conditions and attitudes related to culture.

reigning cultural norms

Stresses the rules and standards currently in power within a culture.

established cultural practices

Highlights the traditions and customs that are well-established.

accepted cultural values

Focuses on the beliefs and principles that are widely embraced.

conventional cultural wisdom

Implies shared knowledge and understanding accepted by most members of the culture.

common cultural beliefs

Highlights shared beliefs, not necessarily practices.

pervasive cultural attitudes

Emphasizes how widespread the attitudes are throughout the culture.

societal norms

Broader term relating to what society considers normal behavior.

FAQs

How to use "prevailing culture" in a sentence?

You can use "prevailing culture" to describe the dominant norms, values, and practices within a specific group or society. For example, "The company struggled to innovate due to the prevailing culture of risk aversion".

What can I say instead of "prevailing culture"?

You can use alternatives like "dominant culture", "mainstream culture", or "current cultural climate" depending on the context.

Is it correct to use "prevailing culture" when discussing historical contexts?

Yes, "prevailing culture" can be used to describe the dominant cultural norms of a specific historical period. It helps frame the social and intellectual environment of that time.

What's the difference between "prevailing culture" and "corporate culture"?

"Prevailing culture" generally refers to the broader societal norms, while "corporate culture" describes the internal values and practices within a specific organization. The "corporate culture" may align with or deviate from the prevailing culture.