second most common

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "second most common" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when comparing at least three things, or when comparing a thing to a group of two other things. For example: Of all the world's languages, Mandarin is the second most common, preceded only by English.

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Parkinson's is the second most common.

The New Yorker

The second most common was "shirtless".

The Washington Post

Neuroblastoma is the second most common solid tumor in children.

Stanford University

The second most common answer is an imaginary benefit.

Harvard Business Review

The second most common method of meat preservation is canning.

Britannica

Parkinson's disease (PD) is the second most common neurodegenerative disorder.

Behavioural Brain Research

HCV-3 is the second most common genotype worldwide.

Journal of Clinical Virology

Cervical cancer is the second most common female cancer worldwide.

Neoplasia

Second most common usage?

TechCrunch

Acinetobacter was also the second most common pathogen in Vietnam.

Forbes

Migraine (14 %) was the second most common side-locked headache.

The Journal of Headache and Pain

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "second most common" when you want to highlight the prevalence of something, but it's not the leading factor. It's useful in situations where you need to provide additional context after mentioning the most dominant aspect.

Common error

Avoid using "second most common" when only two options exist, as it implies there are more than two possibilities. In such cases, simply state that one option is more common than the other.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "second most common" functions as a descriptive modifier, typically used to qualify a noun by indicating its relative frequency or prevalence compared to other items within a set. Ludwig examples confirm its use in varied contexts to specify secondary prominence.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

45%

News & Media

35%

Wiki

5%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "second most common" is a versatile descriptive modifier indicating secondary prevalence after the most frequent item. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically correct and suitable for use across various registers, from scientific literature to news articles. To use it effectively, ensure that the context clearly establishes the "most common" element for a clear comparison. While "second most common" is widely applicable, be mindful of its usage when only two options are available. In summary, understanding the nuance and appropriate context ensures precise and impactful communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

next most frequent

Focuses on the frequency aspect using 'frequent' instead of 'common'.

next in prevalence

Highlights the prevalence aspect directly.

second highest

Emphasizes the ranking aspect, substituting 'common' with 'highest'.

second leading

Uses 'leading' to denote prevalence, similar to 'common'.

following most common

Indicates that it comes after the most common element.

second most typical

Replaces 'common' with 'typical', emphasizing representativeness.

runner-up

An idiomatic expression indicating the second position in a ranking.

second largest

Substitutes 'common' with 'largest', focusing on size or quantity.

second greatest

Replaces 'common' with 'greatest', emphasizing magnitude.

second in line

Implies an order or sequence after the first.

FAQs

How do I use "second most common" in a sentence?

The phrase "second most common" is used to describe something that appears or occurs more often than most other things, but less often than the most frequent one. For example, "English is the most common language online, followed by Spanish, the "second most common" language".

What's the difference between "most common" and "second most common"?

"Most common" refers to the element that occurs with the highest frequency, while "second most common" refers to the element with the second-highest frequency. The "second most common" is less frequent than the most common.

What can I say instead of "second most common"?

Alternatives to "second most common" include "next most frequent", "second highest", or "runner-up", depending on the specific context and the nuance you want to convey.

Is it appropriate to use "second most common" when discussing only two options?

No, it is generally not appropriate. The phrase "second most common" implies that there are at least three options. If only two options are being discussed, it's more accurate to simply state which one is more common or frequent.