Crossword Genius

To exclude a novice is commonplace (5)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

banal

'commonplace' is the definition.
(I know that commonplace can be written as banal)

'to exclude a novice' is the wordplay.
'to exclude' becomes 'ban' (I've seen this in another clue).
'novice' becomes 'L' (as in a learner driver with L-plates on their car).
'ban'+'a'+'l'='BANAL'

'is' is the link.

(Other definitions for banal that I've seen before include "Pedestrian" , "Mundane" , "Trite or fatuous" , "Trite and insipid" , "Obvious and boring" .)

I've seen this clue in the Evening Standard.
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