Alternative Ways to Say “Communally”: A Grammar Guide

Understanding how to express the concept of “communally” in different ways is crucial for effective and nuanced communication. This article delves into various synonyms and related phrases that capture the essence of shared ownership, collective action, and joint responsibility.

Mastering these alternatives will enrich your vocabulary and enable you to convey subtle differences in meaning. This guide is useful for students, writers, and anyone looking to improve their English proficiency and communicate more precisely.

Table of Contents

Definition of “Communally”

The term “communally” refers to actions, possessions, or responsibilities that are shared by a group or community. It implies a sense of collective ownership, usage, or participation.

The word stems from “commune,” signifying a close-knit community or a group of people living together and sharing possessions. “Communally” often denotes a distinct departure from individualistic approaches, emphasizing the importance of the group’s well-being and mutual support.

In a broader sense, “communally” can also describe activities or resources that are available for everyone in a community to use or benefit from. This could include shared gardens, communal kitchens, or collectively managed funds.

The term encapsulates the idea of shared benefit and responsibility, fostering a sense of unity and cooperation.

Structural Breakdown

The word “communally” is an adverb derived from the adjective “communal.” The adjective “communal” originates from the noun “commune.” The suffix “-ly” transforms adjectives into adverbs, indicating how an action is performed. Therefore, “communally” modifies verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs, describing the manner in which something is done or experienced collectively.

Understanding the word’s structure helps to appreciate its function in a sentence. For example, in the sentence “The villagers farmed the land communally,” the adverb “communally” modifies the verb “farmed,” indicating that the farming was done as a shared activity.

Recognizing this structural relationship allows for more accurate and effective use of the word and its synonyms.

Types and Categories of Synonyms

There are several ways to express the idea of “communally,” each with slightly different connotations. These can be broadly categorized based on the specific aspect of shared experience they emphasize.

Shared Ownership

This category includes words and phrases that emphasize shared possession or control of resources or property. It highlights the idea that something belongs to the group as a whole, rather than to individuals.

Collective Action

This category focuses on actions that are performed together as a group. It highlights the idea of working together towards a common goal or purpose.

Joint Responsibility

This category emphasizes the shared obligation or accountability for something. It highlights the idea that all members of the group are responsible for the outcome.

Collaborative Effort

This category underscores the cooperative nature of the action, emphasizing that individuals are working together, contributing their skills and knowledge to achieve a common objective.

Group-Oriented

This category describes actions or behaviors that prioritize the needs and interests of the group over individual desires. It highlights the importance of community and mutual support.

Examples

To illustrate the different ways of expressing “communally,” here are several examples categorized by the types discussed above. Each example demonstrates how the alternative phrase can be used in a sentence.

Shared Ownership Examples

These examples illustrate how different phrases can express the idea of shared ownership, emphasizing that resources or property belong to the group as a whole.

Original Sentence Alternative Sentence
The villagers used the well communally. The villagers used the well collectively.
They managed the forest communally. They managed the forest jointly.
The apartment building had a garden that was maintained communally. The apartment building had a garden that was maintained by all residents.
The tools were available communally for everyone to use. The tools were available for public use.
The resources were distributed communally amongst the members. The resources were distributed equally amongst the members.
The land was owned communally by the tribe. The land was owned in common by the tribe.
They decided to invest their savings communally. They decided to pool their savings together.
The workspace was designed to be used communally. The workspace was designed for shared use.
The library resources were available communally to all citizens. The library resources were available to the public.
The kitchen was used communally by the residents of the co-op. The kitchen was used as a common area by the residents of the co-op.
The project’s funding was managed communally. The project’s funding was managed collectively.
The responsibilities were divided communally among the team. The responsibilities were divided equally among the team.
They decided to share their knowledge communally. They decided to share their knowledge openly.
The decision-making process was done communally. The decision-making process was done democratically.
The tasks were performed communally to save time. The tasks were performed together to save time.
The garden was maintained communally by the neighborhood. The garden was maintained as a community project by the neighborhood.
The benefits were shared communally among the workers. The benefits were shared uniformly among the workers.
The data was analyzed communally by the team. The data was analyzed collaboratively by the team.
The equipment was purchased communally for the lab. The equipment was purchased jointly for the lab.
The profits were distributed communally to the shareholders. The profits were distributed proportionately to the shareholders.
The expenses were paid communally by the group. The expenses were paid collectively by the group.
The cleaning duties were divided communally. The cleaning duties were divided amongst everyone.
The space was organized communally by the members. The space was organized through a group effort by the members.

Collective Action Examples

These examples showcase how to express “communally” in the context of collective action, emphasizing the idea of working together towards a common goal.

Original Sentence Alternative Sentence
The community built the school communally. The community built the school together.
They worked on the farm communally. They worked on the farm as a team.
The project was completed communally by the volunteers. The project was completed through a joint effort by the volunteers.
The villagers defended their land communally. The villagers defended their land as a unified force.
The students organized the event communally. The students organized the event collaboratively.
They decided to sing the song communally. They decided to sing the song in unison.
The dancers performed the routine communally. The dancers performed the routine synchronously.
The firefighters battled the blaze communally. The firefighters battled the blaze in a coordinated manner.
The neighbors cleaned the street communally. The neighbors cleaned the street as a group.
The team developed the software communally. The team developed the software through collaboration.
They planned the event communally. They planned the event as a group.
The community celebrated the festival communally. The community celebrated the festival together.
The musicians played the symphony communally. The musicians played the symphony in concert.
The employees solved the problem communally. The employees solved the problem collaboratively.
The children painted the mural communally. The children painted the mural as a joint project.
The members organized the fundraiser communally. The members organized the fundraiser through teamwork.
The athletes trained communally for the competition. The athletes trained as a team for the competition.
The volunteers packed the boxes communally. The volunteers packed the boxes together.
The artists created the sculpture communally. The artists created the sculpture in collaboration.
The activists protested the policy communally. The activists protested the policy as a united front.
The chefs prepared the meal communally. The chefs prepared the meal together.
The engineers designed the bridge communally. The engineers designed the bridge collaboratively.
The scientists conducted the experiment communally. The scientists conducted the experiment as a team.
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Joint Responsibility Examples

These examples demonstrate how to use alternative phrases to convey the idea of joint responsibility, highlighting that all members of the group are responsible for the outcome.

Original Sentence Alternative Sentence
The garden’s upkeep was the responsibility of the residents, managed communally. The garden’s upkeep was the responsibility of the residents, managed jointly.
They shared the household chores communally. They shared the household chores equally.
The team was communally accountable for the project’s success. The team was collectively responsible for the project’s success.
The parents raised the children communally. The parents raised the children together.
The shareholders were communally liable for the company’s debts. The shareholders were jointly liable for the company’s debts.
The citizens were communally responsible for maintaining the park. The citizens were collectively responsible for maintaining the park.
The students were communally graded on the group project. The students were jointly graded on the group project.
The neighbors were communally responsible for neighborhood watch. The neighbors were collectively responsible for neighborhood watch.
They were communally held responsible for the damage. They were jointly held responsible for the damage.
The committee was communally accountable for the decision. The committee was collectively accountable for the decision.
The members were communally responsible for the club’s finances. The members were jointly responsible for the club’s finances.
The residents were communally accountable for building maintenance. The residents were collectively accountable for building maintenance.
They were communally responsible for the success of the event. They were jointly responsible for the success of the event.
The team was communally liable for project errors. The team was collectively liable for project errors.
The board was communally accountable for the company’s performance. The board was jointly accountable for the company’s performance.
The volunteers were communally responsible for the cleanup. The volunteers were collectively responsible for the cleanup.
The owners were communally liable for the property’s upkeep. The owners were jointly liable for the property’s upkeep.
The class was communally accountable for the presentation. The class was collectively accountable for the presentation.
The group was communally responsible for the outcome. The group was jointly responsible for the outcome.
The organization was communally liable for any accidents. The organization was collectively liable for any accidents.
The staff was communally accountable for customer satisfaction. The staff was jointly accountable for customer satisfaction.
The participants were communally responsible for maintaining order. The participants were collectively responsible for maintaining order.
The partners were communally liable for business debts. The partners were jointly liable for business debts.

Collaborative Effort Examples

These examples highlight the cooperative nature of the action, emphasizing that individuals are working together, contributing their skills and knowledge to achieve a common objective.

Original Sentence Alternative Sentence
The scientists worked on the research project communally. The scientists worked on the research project collaboratively.
The artists created the mural communally. The artists created the mural through collaboration.
The team developed the software communally. The team developed the software in a collaborative manner.
The students wrote the play communally. The students wrote the play through a collaborative effort.
The chefs prepared the meal communally. The chefs prepared the meal in a cooperative spirit.
The engineers designed the bridge communally. The engineers designed the bridge through teamwork.
The musicians composed the song communally. The musicians composed the song in a joint effort.
The programmers debugged the code communally. The programmers debugged the code in a collaborative environment.
The authors wrote the book communally. The authors wrote the book in cooperation.
The designers created the product communally. The designers created the product through collective design.
The filmmakers produced the movie communally. The filmmakers produced the movie in a shared production effort.
The researchers analyzed the data communally. The researchers analyzed the data in a collaborative analysis.
The architects designed the building communally. The architects designed the building through a joint design process.
The educators developed the curriculum communally. The educators developed the curriculum in a collaborative setting.
The entrepreneurs launched the startup communally. The entrepreneurs launched the startup through a collaborative venture.
The community members planned the event communally. The community members planned the event in a cooperative planning session.
The volunteers organized the charity drive communally. The volunteers organized the charity drive through a group effort.
The board members made the decision communally. The board members made the decision in a collaborative decision-making process.
The staff members implemented the project communally. The staff members implemented the project through teamwork.
The participants solved the puzzle communally. The participants solved the puzzle in a cooperative puzzle-solving session.
The dancers choreographed the performance communally. The dancers choreographed the performance through collaborative choreography.
The musicians arranged the piece communally. The musicians arranged the piece in a joint arrangement process.
The translators worked on the document communally. The translators worked on the document in a collaborative translation project.

Group-Oriented Examples

These examples describe actions or behaviors that prioritize the needs and interests of the group over individual desires, highlighting the importance of community and mutual support.

Original Sentence Alternative Sentence
The group made decisions communally, considering everyone’s input. The group made decisions democratically, considering everyone’s input.
They lived a life that was very communally oriented. They lived a life that was very focused on the community.
The society valued communally held beliefs and practices. The society valued shared beliefs and practices.
The culture promoted communally beneficial actions. The culture promoted actions that benefit the group.
The system was designed to be communally supportive. The system was designed to support the community.
The project aimed to create a more communally cohesive environment. The project aimed to create a more unified and supportive community.
The organization fostered a communally minded approach to problem-solving. The organization fostered an approach to problem-solving that prioritizes the group.
The members acted in a communally responsible manner. The members acted in a manner that shows responsibility to the community.
The policies were created to ensure communally fair outcomes. The policies were created to ensure outcomes that are fair to the community.
The approach was designed to be communally inclusive. The approach was designed to be inclusive of all members of the community.
The resources were allocated in a communally sensitive way. The resources were allocated in a way that is sensitive to the needs of the community.
The leadership promoted a communally driven vision. The leadership promoted a vision that is driven by the needs of the community.
The goals were set to be communally beneficial. The goals were set to be beneficial to the community as a whole.
The values were based on communally shared principles. The values were based on principles shared by the community.
The structure was created to be communally sustainable. The structure was created to be sustainable for the community.
The program was designed to be communally empowering. The program was designed to be empowering for the community.
The methods were chosen to be communally respectful. The methods were chosen to be respectful of the community.
The decisions were made with a communally conscious perspective. The decisions were made with a perspective that is conscious of the needs of the community.
The efforts were aimed at creating a more communally engaged society. The efforts were aimed at creating a society that is more engaged in community activities.
The initiatives were designed to be communally enriching. The initiatives were designed to be enriching for the community.
The system was designed to be communally accessible. The system was designed to be accessible to all members of the community.
The structure was built to be communally supportive. The structure was built to be supportive of the community.
The approach was always communally focused. The approach was always focused on the group’s needs.
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Usage Rules

When choosing an alternative to “communally,” consider the specific nuance you want to convey. “Collectively” is a general term for shared action or ownership.

“Jointly” often emphasizes shared responsibility or legal liability. “Together” is a simple and versatile synonym that emphasizes unity and cooperation.

It is essential to consider the context in which the word is being used. In legal contexts, “jointly” and “severally” may have specific implications regarding liability.

In social contexts, “together” and “collaboratively” may be more appropriate to emphasize cooperation and shared goals.

Common Mistakes

A common mistake is using “communally” when a simpler word like “together” would be more appropriate. Another mistake is using “communally” in contexts where it implies a political or ideological stance that isn’t intended.

It’s crucial to be aware of the connotations of the word and its alternatives.

Incorrect Correct Explanation
They ate the food communally, each having their own plate. They ate the food together, each having their own plate. “Together” is more appropriate because they are eating in the same space, but not necessarily sharing food from a common dish.
The company was communally owned by the shareholders, each with different voting rights. The company was collectively owned by the shareholders, each with different voting rights. “Collectively” is better because it acknowledges the shared ownership while recognizing individual differences in rights.
The project was completed communally, with each person doing their own separate task. The project was completed collaboratively, with each person doing their own separate task. “Collaboratively” highlights that each person is contributing to the same goal.

Practice Exercises

Test your understanding of the different ways to say “communally” with these practice exercises.

Exercise 1: Fill in the Blanks

Fill in the blanks with the most appropriate synonym for “communally” from the list below:

Options: collectively, jointly, together, collaboratively, democratically

Question Answer
The team worked _______ to complete the project on time. collaboratively
The land was owned _______ by the members of the village. collectively
They decided _______ to contribute to the charity fund. together
The partners were _______ liable for the debts of the business. jointly
The decisions were made _______, with everyone having a vote. democratically
The students _______ cleaned up the park after the event. together
The scientists _______ analyzed the data from the experiment. collaboratively
The neighbors decided to _______ maintain the community garden. collectively
The authors _______ wrote the book, each contributing chapters. collaboratively
The parents were _______ responsible for raising their children. jointly

Exercise 2: Sentence Rewriting

Rewrite the following sentences using a synonym for “communally.”

Original Sentence Rewritten Sentence
The residents maintained the building’s facilities communally. The residents maintained the building’s facilities jointly.
They celebrated the festival communally. They celebrated the festival together.
The team managed the project’s budget communally. The team managed the project’s budget collectively.
The students organized the event communally. The students organized the event collaboratively.
The neighbors shared the tools communally. The neighbors shared the tools amongst themselves.

Exercise 3: Synonym Selection

Choose the best synonym for “communally” in each context:

Question Options Answer
The shareholders are _______ responsible for the company’s debts. a) together, b) jointly, c) collectively b) jointly
The team worked _______ to achieve the project’s goals. a) communally, b) collaboratively, c) jointly b) collaboratively
They decided to contribute _______ to the cause. a) together, b) jointly, c) collectively a) together
The land was owned _______ by the members of the cooperative. a) together, b) jointly, c) collectively c) collectively
The decisions were made _______, ensuring everyone had a voice. a) democratically, b) jointly, c) collaboratively a) democratically

Advanced Topics

For advanced learners, it’s useful to explore the historical and sociological contexts of the term “communally.” The word is often associated with specific social and political ideologies, such as communalism and socialism. Understanding these connections can provide a deeper appreciation of the word’s nuances and implications.

Furthermore, exploring the legal implications of terms like “jointly and severally liable” can be beneficial for those working in legal or business contexts. This requires a careful understanding of contract law and the legal responsibilities of individuals and groups.

FAQ

Here are some frequently asked questions about alternative ways to say “communally.”

  1. Q: Is there a difference between “collectively” and “communally?”

    A: While both terms imply shared action or ownership, “communally” often carries a stronger connotation of shared resources and a close-knit community. “Collectively” is a more general term that simply indicates a group effort or shared ownership without necessarily implying a specific social structure or ideology.

  2. Q: When should I use “jointly” instead of “together?”

    A: “Jointly” is best used when emphasizing shared responsibility, obligation, or liability. It’s common in legal or business contexts. “Together” is a more general term that simply indicates that people are doing something at the same time or in the same place.

  3. Q: What are some other ways to say “communally” in a formal setting?

    A: In formal settings, consider using phrases like “through collaborative effort,” “in a coordinated manner,” or “with shared responsibility.” These phrases convey the meaning of “communally” without necessarily implying a specific social or political ideology.

  4. Q: How do I avoid misusing the word “communally?”

    A: To avoid misuse, carefully consider the context and the specific nuance you want to convey. If you’re unsure whether “communally” is the right word, consider using a simpler or more general term like “together” or “collectively.” Also, be aware of the word’s potential connotations and implications.

  5. Q: Can “communally” be used in a negative context?

    A: While “communally” is generally used in a positive or neutral context, it can be used negatively if the shared action or ownership leads to undesirable outcomes. For example, “The group was communally responsible for the failure of the project,” implies a shared blame.

  6. Q: Is “communally” always related to political ideologies?

    A: No, “communally” is not always related to political ideologies, but it is often associated with communalism and socialism. Understanding these connections can provide a deeper appreciation of the word’s nuances and implications, but it is not inherently political.

  7. Q: Are there any regional differences in the use of “communally” and its synonyms?

    A: While the core meaning of “communally” and its synonyms remains consistent across different regions, certain phrases may be more common in specific dialects or cultures. For example, some British English speakers might use “shared” more frequently than “collectively” in certain contexts.

  8. Q: How can I improve my understanding of when to use each synonym of “communally?”

    A: The best way to improve your understanding is through practice and exposure to different contexts. Read widely, pay attention to how different writers use these words, and try to use them in your own writing and speaking. Consider the specific nuance you want to convey and choose the word that best fits the context.

Conclusion

Mastering the art of expressing shared actions, ownership, and responsibilities is crucial for effective communication. While “communally” is a useful term, understanding its synonyms and related phrases allows for greater precision and nuance in your writing and speech.

By considering the context, connotations, and specific implications of each alternative, you can communicate your ideas more clearly and effectively.

Remember to practice using

these synonyms in different contexts to solidify your understanding and expand your vocabulary. The more you practice, the more natural and intuitive your word choices will become.

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