rather common

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "rather common" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that is not rare or uncommon, but also not particularly noteworthy. For example, "Cats are rather common house pets."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

This is rather common.

The Guardian - Books

Dirt is rather common among ZANU's elite.

The Economist

"Here it's rather common to chant something racist".

The New York Times - Sports

Jumps of more then seven feet were rather common in the old horse shows.

The New Yorker

It's rather an unorthodox form of distribution but I think it's rather common these days".

The Guardian - Film

"Maybe it's become rather common, but I can't say it feels any worse," Mr. Fierstein said.

The New York Times

"It's become rather common for parents to be calling here," she said of the Section XI office in Stony Brook.

The New York Times

One must freeze the butter, then freeze the stuffed breasts to avoid their incurring a (rather common) leak.

The New Yorker

This is a rather common situation here, where houses are passed down to children or are bought by neighbors.

The New York Times

Her name was Dolores Franco — her surname, which is rather common, being the same as the dictator's.

The New Yorker

It's rather common for terms which have a precise mathematical meaning to be used loosely for the purposes of emphasis.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "rather common" to indicate something that occurs more often than expected but is not necessarily remarkable. It's useful for setting expectations without overstating prevalence.

Common error

Avoid using "rather common" when describing extremely rare events. The phrase implies a noticeable degree of occurrence, so ensure the context aligns with this meaning.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "rather common" functions as an adjective phrase modifying a noun. It serves to describe the extent to which something is typical or widespread, but Ludwig AI states that is not necessarily noteworthy.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

44%

News & Media

39%

Wiki

3%

Less common in

Formal & Business

2%

Reference

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "rather common" is a useful descriptor for indicating that something is neither rare nor exceptional. Ludwig AI validates its correctness and widespread applicability across varied contexts. It occurs most frequently in Science and News & Media, where it is used to set expectations about the prevalence of certain phenomena or events. When using this phrase, be aware of its neutral tone and moderate emphasis to accurately reflect the frequency of the subject. Remember, it is stronger than "somewhat common" but weaker than "very common". Using alternatives such as "not unusual" or "fairly typical" can offer slight variations in meaning and emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

not unusual

A direct negation of being unusual, implying a level of commonness.

relatively frequent

Emphasizes the frequency of occurrence compared to other possibilities.

moderately typical

Highlights the typicality or representativeness of something to a moderate degree.

somewhat prevalent

Focuses on the widespread existence of something, though not necessarily universally.

fairly usual

Indicates that something is normal and expected to a reasonable extent.

quite widespread

Similar to "somewhat prevalent" but possibly suggesting a greater geographical distribution.

reasonably ordinary

Highlights the ordinariness and lack of exceptional qualities of something.

noticeably recurrent

Points out the repeated occurrence to an observable degree.

passably frequent

Suggests adequate frequency of something.

slightly mainstream

Suggests mild integration and acceptance of an idea or product.

FAQs

How can I use "rather common" in a sentence?

You can use "rather common" to describe something that isn't particularly rare. For example: "It is "rather common" to see squirrels in this park."

What can I say instead of "rather common"?

You can use alternatives like "not unusual", "fairly typical", or "somewhat prevalent" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it more appropriate to say "rather common" or "very common"?

"Rather common" implies a moderate level of frequency, while "very common" suggests a high level. The best choice depends on the actual frequency of what you're describing.

What's the difference between "rather common" and "somewhat common"?

The phrases are extremely similar. "Rather common" is only marginally more emphatic, but they are functionally interchangeable for most purposes.