The steady and dynamic shear properties of dilute aqueous solutions of Separan AP30, xanthan gum, carboxymethyl cellulose, and Polyox WSR301 at different concentrations and temperatures were investigated. These polymer solutions exhibit both shear thinning (“power‐law”) and elastic characteristics under steady and oscillatory measurements even at polymer concentrations as low as 50 ppm. The temperature and concentration superposition principles using reduced variables are applicable to both steady and dynamic shear data. The steady‐shear viscosity data are fitted with the Carreau viscosity equation. The dynamic results agree qualitatively with the trend predicted by the Zimm molecular model. However, the longest relaxation time evaluated from the dynamic flow curve is an order of magnitude longer than the predicted value from the Zimm theory. The disagreement could be attributed to the differences in the molecular weight distribution or polydispersity, ionic interaction, and solvent chemistry. The relationship between steady and dynamic shear viscosities follows the Cox‐Merz rule only in low shear rate and frequency regions. The addition of NaCl salt substantially decreases the steady‐shear viscosity, zero‐shear intrinsic viscosity, and dynamic shear moduli, depending on the salt concentration.