the common good

USAGE SUMMARY

"the common good" is a correct phrase that can be used in written English.
It is generally used to refer to something that benefits a large group of people, such as a community or nation. For example, "In order to bring about positive change, we must strive for the common good."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"Common ground cannot be found by destroying the common good".

The New York Times

Slogan: "Standing for the common good".

The Guardian

"First: a conception of the common good.

Independent

That's your contribution to the common good".

The New York Times

That's working for the common good.

The Guardian

"The Common Good" represents a meeting of choreographic minds.

The New York Times

Like Brown, Osborne puts political advantage above the common good.

The Guardian - Opinion

But who decides what is in the common good?

The New Yorker

In fact, it's intervention for the common good.

The Guardian

The common good is being sacrificed for political self-interest.

The Guardian

Pursuing our obsessions instead of fighting for the common good.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing about societal goals, use "the common good" to emphasize that the benefits should be shared widely, rather than concentrated among a few. This term often appears in discussions of ethics, politics, and economics.

Common error

Avoid using "the common good" when you're actually describing benefits to specific individuals or small groups. "The common good" should represent a widespread benefit that extends across a larger community or society.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "the common good" functions primarily as a noun phrase. It refers to something beneficial to the majority of a community or society. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is correct and widely used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

25%

Formal & Business

25%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "the common good" is a well-established noun phrase signifying something beneficial to the broader community, rather than a select few. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and widespread usage. Predominantly found in News & Media, Science and Formal & Business contexts, the phrase emphasizes the importance of shared benefits in discussions of ethics, politics, and economics. When using "the common good", remember that it should describe a widespread, societal benefit and not be confused with benefits only available to specific individuals or small groups.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

public welfare

Replaces 'common' with 'public' and 'good' with 'welfare', focusing on societal well-being.

general welfare

Similar to public welfare, but uses 'general' to emphasize the broad scope of the welfare.

collective benefit

Emphasizes the shared advantage derived by a group.

societal benefit

Highlights the advantages for society as a whole.

community benefit

Focuses on the positive outcomes for a specific community.

public interest

Shifts the focus to what benefits the public, rather than a general good.

collective well-being

Replaces 'good' with 'well-being', emphasizing a state of health, happiness, and prosperity for the group.

shared prosperity

Focuses on the economic benefit and success of a group.

overall benefit

Highlights the total advantage, moving away from the idea of commonality.

mutual advantage

Focuses on benefits that are reciprocal or shared between parties.

FAQs

How can I use "the common good" in a sentence?

You can use "the common good" to describe actions or policies that benefit society as a whole. For example, "Investing in education is essential for "public welfare" and "societal benefit"."

What are some alternatives to "the common good"?

Depending on the context, you can use phrases like ""public welfare"", "general welfare", or "collective benefit" as alternatives to "the common good".

Is "the common good" a subjective concept?

While the specific interpretation of "the common good" can vary, it generally refers to benefits that are widely shared and contribute to the overall well-being of a community or society. Discussions often arise about what truly constitutes "public interest".

How does "the common good" relate to individual rights?

"The common good" and individual rights are often balanced in discussions of public policy. Actions taken for collective benefit should not unduly infringe upon individual freedoms and rights.