What Does "be common in" Mean?
- Meaning: The expression "be common in" indicates that a particular thing, behavior, or phenomenon occurs frequently, is widespread, or is found often within a specific group, location, or context.
- Compositional vs. Semi-idiomatic: This is a compositional collocation. The meaning is derived directly from the adjective "common" (frequent/widespread) and the preposition "in" (denoting a sphere or location).
- Register: It is a neutral to formal expression. While perfectly acceptable in daily conversation, it is a staple of academic, scientific, and journalistic writing used to report findings or historical trends.
How to Use It
- Grammatical pattern: [Subject] + [be-verb] + common + in + [Noun Phrase/Location/Group].
- Typical complements: It is followed by locations (in the West), groups of people (in athletes), time periods (in the 19th century), or specific domains (in the scientific community).
- Separability: As a collocation involving an adjective and a prepositional phrase, the components are not "separable" like a phrasal verb, but the verb "be" can be modified by adverbs (e.g., "be increasingly common in") or changed to auxiliary forms (e.g., "used to be common in").
- What sounds unnatural: Using the wrong preposition is the most frequent error. Saying something is "common at the world" or "common with this area" sounds non-idiomatic.
Real-World Examples
These examples are sourced from be common in on Ludwig.guru.
"In addition, intraspecific recombinations seem to be common in WMV." — sciencedirect.com
"COMPANY towns used to be common in the West." — economist.com
"If Kepler finds the planets, Dr. Borucki explained, life could be common in the universe." — nytimes.com
"Porous materials are believed to be common in the asteroids and satellites of the outer planets." — sciencedirect.com
"Thalassemia now is known also to be common in Thailand and elsewhere in the Far East." — britannica.com
Similar Phrases and Alternatives
| Phrase |
Context |
| be prevalent in |
More formal; often used in medical, sociological, or scientific contexts to describe widespread conditions. |
| be widespread in |
Emphasizes the geographical or physical extent of a phenomenon. |
| occur frequently in |
Focuses on the action or event itself rather than a state of being. |
| be rife in |
Usually carries a negative connotation, suggesting something bad is spreading uncontrollably. |
| be ubiquitous in |
A very formal term meaning "found everywhere"; stronger than "common." |
Common Mistakes
- Wrong Preposition: Learners often use the incorrect preposition, such as 'common at' or 'common with', instead of 'common in'. While "common with" is used for shared traits between two things, "common in" is required for locations or groups.
- Verb Choice: Using "have" instead of "be" (e.g., "This area has common rain"). The correct structure requires the linking verb "be" to connect the subject to the adjective.
Quick-Reference Summary
| Expression |
Meaning |
Grammatical Pattern |
Register |
| be common in |
To be found frequently or widespread within a specific domain. |
Subject + be + common + in + [Noun] |
Neutral / Formal |
FAQs
Can the words in the phrase be common in be separated by other words?
Yes, you can place adverbs of degree or frequency between the verb and the adjective to add nuance. For example, it is grammatically correct to say something "is extremely common in" or "will likely be common in" a specific context.
What is the difference between be common in and be common to?
While be common in refers to the prevalence of something within a group or place, be common to refers to traits shared between specific entities. You would say a disease is common in children, but a love of music is common to both siblings.
Is it correct to say common at or common with when describing a location?
No, learners often use the incorrect preposition, such as common at or common with, instead of common in. To describe geographical or situational frequency, the preposition "in" is the standard idiomatic choice.