uncommon for

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "uncommon for" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it to describe situations, behaviors, or occurrences that are not typical or frequent in a particular context. Example: "It is uncommon for the weather to be this warm in October." Alternative expressions include "rare for" and "infrequent for."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

It is not uncommon for black F.S.U.

The New York Times - Magazine

But that's not uncommon for him.

The New York Times - Sports

Such situations are perhaps not uncommon for small business owners.

The Guardian

His ears are pierced, uncommon for Iraqi males.

The New York Times

The song's overtly conscious message wasn't uncommon for Common.

The New Yorker

It is not uncommon for anger and resentment to surface.

The New York Times - Health

He was also good at maths, not uncommon for musicians.

The Guardian

"It is not uncommon for me to receive such inquiries.

The New York Times

It is not uncommon for complete strangers to stage interventions.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Such a project isn't uncommon for a new empire.

The New Yorker

It's not uncommon for New Yorkers to hook up".

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Pair the phrase with the 'it is' dummy subject construction (e.g. 'It is "uncommon for" doctors...') to introduce general observations about specific groups.

Common error

Writers sometimes mistakenly use 'uncommon of' when they mean "uncommon for". While 'uncommon of' might appear in very rare possessive contexts, the standard preposition used to indicate the subject affected by the rarity is 'for'.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "uncommon for" functions primarily as an adjective followed by a prepositional phrase, typically serving as a predicate adjective. In the vast majority of cases found in Ludwig, it follows a linking verb and precedes a noun phrase or a gerund phrase that defines the scope of the rarity.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Science

20%

Wiki

15%

Less common in

Academia

5%

Business

3%

Social Media

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "uncommon for" is a highly versatile and correct English phrase used to denote scarcity within a specific context. Analysis from Ludwig shows that it is particularly prevalent in News & Media and Scientific journals. One of its most effective rhetorical uses is the double negative 'not "uncommon for"', which writers use to signal that an event is more frequent than the reader might initially assume. Whether you are writing a news report or a research paper, this phrase remains a robust choice for discussing frequency and normality. Ludwig AI confirms its status as a standard, high-frequency expression across all reputable English sources.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

rare for

Suggests a lower frequency than uncommon

unusual for

Focuses more on the departure from the norm rather than just frequency

atypical for

A more clinical or formal way to describe a lack of commonality

not typical for

A direct negation of what is expected

infrequent for

Specifically refers to the low number of occurrences

uncharacteristic for

Suggests behavior that does not match an individual or group's known traits

scarce for

Emphasizes the lack of availability or limited existence

unfamiliar for

Indicates something not known or recognized by the subject

extraordinary for

Suggests something far beyond the common or expected

strange for

Implies a sense of oddity alongside the lack of commonality

FAQs

How do I use "uncommon for" in a sentence?

You can use it to describe a specific group or situation where something is rare, such as 'It is "uncommon for" startups to succeed without funding'. You can also use it in a double negative like '"not uncommon for"' to mean 'fairly common'.

What is the difference between "uncommon for" and "unusual for"?

While similar, "uncommon for" usually refers to statistics or frequency, whereas '"unusual for"' often implies a sense of oddity or departure from expected behavior.

Is "rare for" the same as "uncommon for"?

They are nearly identical in meaning, but '"rare for"' usually suggests a much lower frequency than "uncommon for".

When should I use "atypical for" instead?

Use '"atypical for"' in scientific or highly formal contexts to describe something that does not fit a specific pattern or type.