terribly common

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "terribly common" is correct and can be used in written English.
It means something that is very common or frequent, often in a negative sense. Example: "Littering is a terribly common issue in our neighborhood, despite numerous attempts to educate people about proper waste management."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

11 human-written examples

They're all so terribly common".

The Guardian - Books

Would they be monogrammed, or is that sort of thing terribly, terribly common?

The Guardian

Oh, and there's Joan Crawford as the terribly common perfume sales clerk who steals Shearer's husband.

The New York Times

Even though the letter V is not a terribly common letter, I always find it interesting when a constructor places an additional constraint on his or her construction.

The New York Times

This form is not terribly common in the medieval period.

SEP

It's a terribly common situation: after hundreds of hours of thinking through and building a product, a startup finds that its users stumble through a sign-up flow or in finding a feature.

TechCrunch

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

47 human-written examples

Its chief executive, Simon Thurley, said: "This is terribly disappointing but common sense has to prevail".

The Guardian

And then there is the all too common, and terribly damaging, conflation of homosexuality and paedophilia.

The Guardian - Opinion

Those hurdles are unfair, unfortunately common and terribly hurtful to women rabbis throughout their careers -- emotionally, socially and financially.

Huffington Post

"Well I didn't give it a great deal of thought to be honest because I understand polyps are quite common, it's not terribly uncommon so it didn't alarm me a great deal to be honest with you.

BMC Cancer

It's a common myth that all nonprofits pay terribly.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "terribly common", ensure the context implies a negative or undesirable aspect of the commonality. For instance, describe societal issues or negative trends to emphasize the concerning nature of their frequency.

Common error

Avoid using "terribly common" when describing positive phenomena. The phrase inherently carries a negative connotation, so use alternatives like "very common" or "widespread" when referring to desirable trends or events.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "terribly common" functions as an intensifier (terribly) modifying an adjective (common). As noted by Ludwig, this creates a descriptive phrase denoting something that occurs with notable frequency. Ludwig AI validates that this phrase is grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Science

20%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "terribly common" is a grammatically sound phrase used to describe something as frequently occurring, often carrying a negative connotation. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's suitable for describing issues or trends in news, media, and general discussions, albeit with a slightly informal tone. Be mindful to reserve its usage for undesirable or concerning situations to maintain accuracy and impact. Less negative alternatives include phrases such as "very frequent" or "extremely widespread".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

very frequent

Replaces "terribly" with "very", reducing the emphasis while maintaining the core meaning of high occurrence.

extremely widespread

Substitutes both words to emphasize the extent of distribution rather than just frequency.

alarmingly prevalent

Replaces "terribly common" to highlight a concerning level of frequency.

disturbingly ordinary

Emphasizes that something negative has become commonplace and unremarkable, shifting the focus to acceptance.

shockingly routine

Highlights that an unexpected or negative event is now happening regularly, bringing out a sense of surprise at its normalcy.

regrettably familiar

Implies the commonality is undesirable and recognizable, changing the focus to familiarity and regret.

sadly typical

Focuses on the unfortunate or regrettable aspect of the high frequency.

overly familiar

Indicates something is too frequent or well-known, often to the point of annoyance or triviality.

rampant

Short single word. Suggests an uncontrolled or unchecked widespread occurrence.

ubiquitous

Implies something is present everywhere, emphasizing its universal presence rather than its commonness in a negative sense.

FAQs

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

Use "terribly common" to describe negative trends, issues, or events that occur frequently. For example, "Misinformation is a terribly common problem on social media."

What's a less negative alternative to "terribly common"?

If you want to avoid the negative connotation, consider alternatives like "very frequent", "extremely widespread", or simply "common" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "terribly common"?

Yes, the phrase "terribly common" is grammatically correct and widely used, as confirmed by Ludwig. It effectively conveys that something is very common and often undesirable.

What's the difference between "terribly common" and "very common"?

"Terribly common" emphasizes a negative aspect of the commonality, whereas "very common" is more neutral. Use "terribly common" when you want to highlight concern or disapproval about how often something occurs.