unfortunately common

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "unfortunately common" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it to describe something that is regrettably frequent or widespread. An example: "This type of error is unfortunately common in many reports." Alternative expressions include "regrettably frequent" and "sadly prevalent."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Your situation is awful and, unfortunately, common.

The New York Times - Style

He said the women's experiences were unfortunately common.

The Guardian

After all, he's a television star and his conduct is, unfortunately, common.

The New Yorker

"It's unfortunately common for multi-ethnic Koreans to face discrimination from a very young age.

The Guardian - Sport

Such stories of relationships gone bad are unfortunately common in the business world.

Harvard University

BUTLER: Unfortunately, common sense and decency are not required by the law.

The Washington Post

Still, they are contemptuous of backroom deals, and that is how, unfortunately, common ground is found.

The New York Times

This near-monopoly perpetuates an unfortunately common practice in the Egyptian media: self-censorship for the sake of survival.

The New York Times

But it was a foreseeable consequence of understaffing at the prison where he was being held in Massachusetts -- conditions that are, unfortunately, common nationwide.

The New York Times

Mistakes such as the one that Miller caught are unfortunately common, according to the medical geneticists and genetic counselors with whom I've spoken.

The New Yorker

It's far too easy — and unfortunately common — for managers to interpret the groupings in a dashboard as causative when they may not be.

Harvard Business Review

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "unfortunately common", ensure the context clearly establishes what specific negative consequence or problem arises from the common occurrence. Providing this clarity enhances the impact and relevance of your statement.

Common error

Avoid using "unfortunately common" as a filler phrase. Ensure the issue you're describing genuinely warrants the negative connotation and that its commonality is relevant to your point.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "unfortunately common" functions as an adverbial modifier followed by an adjective. It serves to qualify a statement by indicating that something occurs frequently and is, regrettably, not unusual. It modifies the noun that it describes.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

39%

Science

27%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Wiki

8%

Academia

8%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "unfortunately common" is used to describe something negative that happens frequently. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically correct and widely used across various domains. This phrase is most often found in "News & Media" and "Science", and is used in a neutral register. Alternatives like "regrettably frequent" or "sadly prevalent" can be used to convey similar meanings, though "unfortunately common" is a straightforward and effective choice in many situations. Remember to ensure the context warrants the use of such a negatively charged, yet commonplace, description.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

regrettably frequent

Replaces "unfortunately" with "regrettably", maintaining a formal tone and conveying sadness about the frequency.

sadly prevalent

Substitutes both words to emphasize the sorrow associated with something being widespread.

commonly regrettable

Swaps the order and slightly shifts the emphasis to the regrettable aspect.

frequently unfortunate

Inverts the word order, altering the emphasis while retaining the core meaning.

unhappily typical

Replaces "common" with "typical" and "unfortunately" with "unhappily", indicating something is representative but undesirable.

lamentably widespread

Emphasizes the mournful aspect of something being broadly distributed.

distressingly familiar

Highlights the upsetting nature of something being well-known.

deplorably routine

Stresses the negative aspect of something being commonplace.

grievously recurring

Highlights both the sadness and repetitive nature of the event.

tragically ordinary

Underscores the sorrowful nature of something being normal.

FAQs

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

You can use "unfortunately common" to describe a negative situation that occurs frequently. For example, "Misdiagnosis is "unfortunately common" in the early stages of the disease".

What are some alternatives to "unfortunately common"?

Alternatives include "regrettably frequent", "sadly prevalent", or "commonly regrettable", depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

Is it always appropriate to use "unfortunately common"?

No, it is most appropriate when discussing negative situations that occur often. Ensure that the situation you are describing is genuinely undesirable and that its frequency is relevant to your point.

What's the difference between "unfortunately common" and "tragically ordinary"?

"Unfortunately common" emphasizes the frequency and negative aspect of an occurrence. "Tragically ordinary", on the other hand, highlights the sorrowful or devastating nature of something that has become normal. The choice depends on which aspect you want to emphasize.