Cool MateCommonly vs Frequently
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Commonly
Top 2,000 (common)B2adverb
Frequently
Top 1,000 (very common)B1adverb
Most common: Frequently
| Commonly | Frequently | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈkɒmənli/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈkɑːmənli/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈfriːkwəntli/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈfriːkwəntli/"]/ |
| Meaning | happening often; usual | happens often |
| Example | Commonly, people mistake these two similar terms for one another. | Buses run frequently between the city and the airport. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 1,000 (very common) |
| CEFR level | B2 | B1 |
| Part of speech | adverb | adverb |
| Collocations | commonly used, commonly accepted, commonly known | frequently asked questions, frequently used, frequently occurring, frequently visit, frequently travel |
| Antonyms | rarely, seldom | seldom, rarely, infrequently |
| Common mistakes | Using 'common' instead of 'commonly', Confusing 'commonly' with 'common', forgetting it's an adverb, Incorrectly placing 'commonly' in sentences | Often confused with 'occasionally' which implies less frequency., Misplaced emphasis when used in phrases, e.g., 'I frequently did' instead of 'I did frequently.', Using 'frequently' in contexts where 'always' or 'never' would be more suitable. |
| Usage notes | Use 'commonly' in everyday situations to describe things that are frequent or typical. It's more formal than using 'often', so avoid it in very casual conversations. | Use 'frequently' in both written and spoken contexts to indicate a high frequency of occurrence. It's appropriate in formal writing but can also be used informally. Avoid using in very casual contexts where slang or simpler terms are more natural. |
Frequently asked questions: Commonly vs Frequently
What's the difference between Commonly and Frequently?
Commonly: happening often; usual Frequently: happens often
Which is more common: Commonly and Frequently?
Frequently is the most common in everyday English.
Are Commonly and Frequently the same CEFR level?
Commonly: B2, Frequently: B1 on the CEFR scale.
Can I use Commonly and Frequently interchangeably?
Not always. Commonly and Frequently are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.