rather commonplace

USAGE SUMMARY

"rather commonplace" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it to describe something that is ordinary or frequently encountered. An example: "The idea of remote work has become rather commonplace in recent years." Alternative expressions include "fairly ordinary" and "quite typical."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

17 human-written examples

But the play was rather commonplace.

The New York Times

They got bored with her plight, which was rather commonplace that year.

The New Yorker

Though held in great affection, however, the sculpture was, in those offices, rather commonplace.

The Guardian - Arts

While Kileigh is a newcomer to such victories, it has become rather commonplace for her mother.

The New York Times

It is not that they are any less arrogant; rather, commonplace computer-manipulated photographs have made persona revisions overly familiar.

The New York Times

Then the rather commonplace, perfunctory friendliness that Valerie offered, when she came to stay, triggered a hunger in her.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

42 human-written examples

It has hotels in Cusco, the Amazon and Machu Picchu Pueblo (which has been cunningly rebranded from the rather more commonplace Aguas Calientes).

Independent

That this stuff seems notable rather than commonplace perhaps tells you more about the current musical era than it does about East India Youth.

The Guardian - Music

The couple's work has sometimes been compared to a fantasy, a term Julian dislikes because it is rather too commonplace an idea.

The New York Times

The girl, instead of being a model, which was rather a commonplace, might work at Vogue, where his wife's former secretary, a very clever girl who spoke four or five languages... but Vogue is already a little too fancy, perhaps, he decided.

The New Yorker

He said he had omitted the line on Monday because "I suppose I felt it was rather a commonplace" which had been often stated by Labour and because he wanted to get across what Labour wanted to happen in the medium term – that the stimulus would bring growth that would lower borrowing.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "rather commonplace" to subtly downplay the significance or uniqueness of something without being overly critical. This phrase works well in both formal and informal writing.

Common error

Avoid using "rather commonplace" too frequently in creative writing, as it can make your prose sound monotonous. Opt for more descriptive alternatives to add depth and originality.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "rather commonplace" functions as a pre-modifying adjective phrase. It describes a noun by indicating that something is ordinary or not particularly remarkable. Ludwig AI confirms this through its analysis of numerous examples where the phrase qualifies nouns in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

31%

Formal & Business

19%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "rather commonplace" serves as a useful tool to describe something as ordinary or frequently encountered. According to Ludwig AI, it is grammatically correct and commonly used in both formal and informal contexts, particularly in news, science, and business writing. While it's essential to use it judiciously to avoid monotony, especially in creative writing, "rather commonplace" provides a nuanced way to express familiarity without being overly critical. Related phrases such as "rather unremarkable" or "fairly usual" can offer similar meanings with slight variations in emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

rather unremarkable

Directly states the lack of distinction, using "unremarkable" in place of "commonplace".

somewhat ordinary

Replaces "commonplace" with "ordinary", suggesting a lack of distinction but maintains the "rather" modifier.

quite typical

Substitutes "rather" with "quite" and "commonplace" with "typical", indicating something conforms to a standard pattern.

fairly usual

Uses "fairly" instead of "rather" and "usual" instead of "commonplace", indicating common occurrence.

pretty standard

Replaces "rather" with "pretty" and "commonplace" with "standard", suggesting conformity to a norm.

moderately conventional

Changes "rather" to "moderately" and "commonplace" to "conventional", indicating adherence to established practices.

relatively frequent

Replaces "rather" with "relatively" and "commonplace" with "frequent", highlighting how often something occurs.

somewhat pedestrian

Uses "pedestrian" which can imply something is common to the point of being uninteresting or lacking in originality.

quite unexceptional

Emphasizes the lack of remarkable qualities by using "unexceptional" instead of "commonplace".

generally prevalent

Indicates widespread occurrence with a more formal tone, using "prevalent" instead of "commonplace".

FAQs

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

You can use "rather commonplace" to describe something that is ordinary or frequently encountered. For example: "The idea of remote work has become "rather commonplace" in recent years."

What phrases are similar in meaning to "rather commonplace"?

Alternatives to "rather commonplace" include "rather unremarkable", "fairly usual", or "quite typical" depending on the specific context.

Is "rather commonplace" appropriate for formal writing?

Yes, "rather commonplace" is suitable for formal writing, offering a nuanced way to describe something as ordinary without being overly critical or informal.

What's the difference between "rather commonplace" and "very common"?

"Rather commonplace" suggests something is ordinary and perhaps slightly uninteresting, while "very common" simply emphasizes the frequency of something without necessarily implying a lack of uniqueness.