uncommon

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "uncommon" is correct and can be used in written English.
It is an adjective that means "not happening or occurring often; unusual". For example: Learning to speak five languages is an uncommon accomplishment.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

It's a fairly uncommon conceit in television, although I know it has a significant place in theater.

The Guardian

While it is uncommon for divorced men to send flowers to an ex-wife, Newt owes the former Mrs Gingrich a big "thank you" after her strategically-timed interview with ABC, intended to ruin his candidacy, backfired.

The Guardian - Opinion

But the Peterson case has revealed that such attitudes, at least in some places in the United States, are far from uncommon.

The Guardian - Sport

When stories didn't work out as planned - a not uncommon occurrence - one could be certain that the calmest person in the media storm would be Max himself.

The Guardian

I ask where his uncommon immersion in his work comes from, and he answers: ‘I suppose it’s a desire to get it right.

The Guardian - Film

This spring the photographer Dominick Tyler is publishing Uncommon Ground, which pairs 100 place words with 100 photographs of the phenomena to which the words refer, from arête ("a sharp-edged mountain ridge, often between two glacier-carved corries") to zawn (a Cornish term for a "wave-smashed chasm in a cliff").

The Guardian - Books

It was not uncommon in Peckham, as elsewhere in the country, for people who had lost homes or businesses to express some sympathy for rioters.

The Guardian

Parker said complications from the "potentially fatal side effects" of the RU486 drug, which he said were "very uncommon", were too risky for patients and doctors, and the Northern Territory, with its "tyranny of distance" was different from other states where most of the population had ready access to hospitals.

The Guardian

Wetherell said students, or their parents, spending more than £2,000 a week – £104,000 a year – are not uncommon: "It comes with the territory of their families, they want all the facilities: the equivalent of a luxury hotel suite".

The Guardian - Money

The nude body is primal, animalistic, and it is not uncommon for it to be accompanied by bared teeth or a war cry.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Quilliam asks her view of the experience of women in Indigenous communities today, where such tragedy is not uncommon.

The Guardian - Arts

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "uncommon" to emphasize that something is not frequently observed or experienced. It can also imply something is exceptional or noteworthy.

Common error

Avoid using "uncommon" when "impossible" or "unachievable" is more appropriate. "Uncommon" suggests rarity, not impossibility. If something is impossible, saying it's "uncommon" is misleading.

Linguistic Context

The word "uncommon" functions primarily as an adjective, modifying nouns to indicate that they are rare, infrequent, or exceptional. Ludwig AI validates this use, providing numerous examples where "uncommon" describes various phenomena, occurrences, and attributes.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

48%

Formal & Business

26%

Science

26%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The term "uncommon" is an adjective used to describe something that is rare, infrequent, or exceptional. Ludwig AI confirms that it adheres to standard grammatical rules and is widely used. As demonstrated by the Ludwig examples, "uncommon" frequently appears in News & Media, Formal & Business, and Scientific contexts. It serves to emphasize the rarity or exceptionality of a subject, while avoiding misuse by ensuring it describes rarity rather than impossibility.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

rare

This term indicates infrequency and is a direct synonym.

unusual

Suggests deviation from the norm, similar to "uncommon".

infrequent

Emphasizes the low occurrence rate.

scarce

Highlights limited availability, akin to rarity.

exceptional

Indicates being significantly above average, similar to one aspect of "uncommon".

extraordinary

Stresses exceeding the ordinary, much like "uncommon".

remarkable

Highlights being worthy of attention due to being different.

atypical

Focuses on not conforming to the typical or usual pattern.

seldom seen

Expresses rarity in terms of visual encounters.

not often encountered

Highlights the low frequency of encountering something.

FAQs

How can I use "uncommon" in a sentence?

Use "uncommon" to describe something rare or exceptional. For example, "It's "uncommon" to see a blue moon" or "She possesses an "uncommon" talent for music".

What can I say instead of "uncommon"?

You can use alternatives like "rare", "unusual", or "exceptional" depending on the specific context.

When is it appropriate to use "uncommon" instead of "rare"?

"Uncommon" is suitable when something is not frequently encountered, while "rare" often implies scarcity or preciousness. Choose based on whether you want to emphasize frequency or inherent value.

Is it correct to say "not uncommon"? What does it imply?

Yes, "not uncommon" is a valid expression. It implies that something is fairly frequent or relatively normal, the opposite of rare or unusual.