too common

USAGE SUMMARY

"too common" is correct and usable in written English.
It is used when something is so ubiquitous that it is unremarkable. For example: "The sight of a blue jay is too common in this city."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Too common, perhaps.

The New York Times

That's too common.

The New York Times

"It's too common.

The New York Times

"They're too common.

The New York Times

It's not too common".

The New York Times

Detractors are only too common.

The Economist

Too common, and too annoying.

The New York Times

But it is too common.

The New York Times

Malnutrition is all too common.

The Guardian - Opinion

But it is only too common.

The Economist

Maria Jose's story is all too common.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "too common" to express that something is so prevalent it lacks originality or impact. For example: "Reality TV shows are becoming too common."

Common error

Avoid using "too common" excessively in formal or academic writing. Opt for more precise and nuanced language to convey the specific degree or nature of prevalence. For example, instead of saying "Errors were too common", specify "Errors occurred in 30% of cases".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "too common" primarily functions as an adjective phrase that modifies a noun or pronoun, expressing that something is excessively frequent or unoriginal. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage, showcasing its wide presence in several contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

74%

Formal & Business

12%

Science

7%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Encyclopedias

2%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "too common" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression to denote that something is excessively prevalent, often with negative implications. As highlighted by Ludwig AI, it appears across a broad spectrum of sources, notably in News & Media. When using "too common", be mindful of the context to ensure it appropriately conveys the intended disapproval or concern. Alternative phrases such as "overly prevalent" or "all too familiar" may offer more nuanced expressions depending on your writing goals.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

excessively frequent

Replaces 'common' with 'frequent' and adds 'excessively' to emphasize the high frequency.

overly prevalent

Substitutes 'common' with 'prevalent' and uses 'overly' to suggest an excessive degree of occurrence.

all too familiar

Emphasizes the negative aspect of something being common, suggesting it's unpleasantly familiar.

unremarkably frequent

Replaces 'common' with 'frequent' and adds 'unremarkably' to highlight the lack of novelty.

commonly encountered

Focuses on the experience of frequently encountering something.

nothing new

A more concise way of saying that something is already known and not innovative.

regularly observed

Highlights the consistent occurrence of something, making it not special.

a dime a dozen

An idiomatic expression indicating that something is very common and therefore not valuable.

widely recognized

Indicates that something is known by many people and therefore lacks uniqueness.

standard fare

Suggests that something is typical and lacks originality, like a standard meal.

FAQs

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

You can use "too common" to express that something is excessively prevalent or unoriginal. For example, "Complaints about slow service are "all too common" in this restaurant".

What are some alternatives to the phrase "too common"?

Alternatives to "too common" include "overly prevalent", "excessively frequent", or "all too familiar" depending on the specific context.

Is it correct to say "very common" instead of "too common"?

While both phrases indicate high frequency, "very common" simply describes prevalence, whereas "too common" implies a negative connotation of excessive occurrence or lack of originality. The choice depends on the intended meaning.

What's the difference between "common" and "too common"?

"Common" indicates that something occurs frequently. "Too common" suggests that something's frequent occurrence is undesirable or has negative implications. For example, "Mistakes are common" versus "Mistakes are "all too common"" implies a problem.