Commonplace, prevalent, widespread, ubiquitous, familiar, universal, popular, ordinary, traditional, customary, familiar, everyday, routine, conventional, recurrent, frequent, standard, accepted, established, general, prevalent, rampant, and rife are several synonyms that could replace the term "was common." An accomplished writer pays close attention to variety and avoids habitually employing the same terms repetitively, ensuring they convey their meaning in a clear and precise manner. Replacing overused phrases with words that freshen up the content and deepen their meaning is almost as essential as honing grammar and sentence structure.