The difference between "common" and "commonly"

Question

The adjective "common" has the meaning of "shared by". Does the adverb "commonly" have such a meaning?

For example, does the sentence below I created make sense? I am trying to describe that each bulb is supplied with the same voltage of 120 volts.

A voltage of 120 volts is applied commonly to three bulbs.

I'd say evenly between. But 60+60+60 makes 180 and not 120 unless I understood you wrongly. — SovereignSun, Dec 5, 2017 at 11:48
@SovereignSun Haha, it's 120 volts, not 120 watts. Nothing is being added. 120 volts are applied to each of the 60 watt bulbs. — farnsy, Dec 6, 2017 at 4:27
@farnsy Missed that one. Well, say, "A voltage of 120 volts is applied to each of the three bulbs" — SovereignSun, Dec 6, 2017 at 4:30

B.W. · Accepted Answer · 2017-12-11 02:05:04Z

1

A proper example of the word commonly would be:

Lightbulbs commonly burn out after 500 hours of use.

In the example you give, I might use equally as in

A voltage of 120 volts is applied equally to three bulbs.

or

A voltage of 120 volts is equally applied to three bulbs.

The two sentences mean essentially the same thing.

answered Dec 11, 2017 at 2:05

B.W.

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