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Common measure

Meter
Pronunciation

Understanding ARPABET Pronunciation

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The pronunciation guide uses the ARPABET phonetic system—the same system used in speech recognition and text-to-speech applications.

Vowel Examples:
AE1 = cat, bat
EH1 = bed, head
IY1 = see, me
OW1 = go, boat
UW1 = boot, do
Stress Numbers:
0 = no stress (unstressed)
1 = primary stress (loud)
2 = secondary stress (medium)
Example:
AH0 TH IY1 N AH0
= a-THEE-na (Athena)

The stressed syllable (marked with 1) is pronounced louder and clearer than others.

Quick Definition

A quatrain form alternating lines of eight and six syllables (typically iambic tetrameter and trimeter) with ABAB or ABCB rhyme schemes.

Detailed Definition
Common measure is a ballad stanza of four lines alternating iambic tetrameter and trimeter with an ABAB rhyme scheme; widely used in hymns and folk poetry (e.g., “Amazing Grace”), it offers rhythmic simplicity and mnemonic accessibility for communal singing.
Example
Example in poetry:
Common measure: Emily Dickinson’s hymn stanzas: “Because I could not stop for Death”; “Amazing Grace” in common measure (8.6.8.6); Original: “The road winds up the mountain steep / And I am tired, Lord, so tired”
Additional Notes
Hymn meter: alternating 8 and 6 syllable lines, often iambic, rhymed ABAB. Also called "ballad meter." Related to: hymn stanza, ballad form. Practice with Emily Dickinson.
Also Known As
Ballad meter hymnal meter common meter 8-6-8-6 meter ballad measure Church meter common quatrain Ballad metre Common metre
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