I generally think

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "I generally think" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to express your opinion on a certain topic. For example, "I generally think that education is the most important factor for success."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

25 human-written examples

Comparing his political philosophy to Mr. Spitzer's: I generally think that I have about the same general point of view.

The New York Times

"I generally think this airport should expand, because of demand".

The New York Times

"So I generally think whatever feels nice, it's probably right".

The Guardian - Film

Lux Alptraum, writer and comedian I generally think everyone ought to read as much Margaret Atwood as possible.

The Guardian - Books

Any sense of why they gave you the job? A. I generally think, especially early in a career, what distinguishes leaders oftentimes is whether they paint a picture.

The New York Times

LAWRENCE WRIGHT: No STEVE COLL: For myself, It's hard to have an opinion about something you can't see, but I generally think that keeping secrets of this type — especially once you announce have the photos — isn't plausible or desirable.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

33 human-written examples

"I asked good friends, friends of friends and people I generally thought were doing cool things for song recommendations," he says.

The New York Times

Top Gear is more than a money‑spinner for BBC2; the truth of it is, whatever you thought of the Gearists, and I generally thought they were jerks, this was populism done so popular that it lifted the whole channel.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

"When I read Andrew, I generally thought he was dedicated to the work of being honest," Coates wrote.

Huffington Post

Growing up in the South, I generally thought of ice cream as a seasonal treat, only later to realize my assumption would strike a New Englander as blasphemy.

Huffington Post

I generally thought of myself as being unsentimental and not the least bit naïve, but I think back then, I had a great deal of naïvite about how difficult it was to make it in the music industry.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "I generally think" to introduce a qualified opinion, indicating that while it's your usual perspective, there might be exceptions. It's a great way to express your point of view without sounding overly assertive.

Common error

Avoid starting too many sentences with "I generally think", as it can make your writing sound repetitive and hesitant. Vary your sentence structure by using alternatives like "in my opinion" or "I believe" to make your writing more engaging.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "I generally think" functions as a hedge or qualifier when expressing an opinion. It softens the assertion, indicating that the speaker holds a particular view but acknowledges the possibility of exceptions. Ludwig shows examples in diverse contexts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Science

10%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "I generally think" is a useful phrase for expressing qualified opinions, commonly found in news and media. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and provides numerous examples of its usage. While versatile, it's important to be mindful of overuse and consider more formal alternatives in certain contexts. The phrase functions as a hedge, softening assertions and inviting consideration rather than demanding agreement.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

I typically think

Replaces "generally" with "typically", indicating a common or usual thought process.

I usually think

Substitutes "generally" with "usually", suggesting a habitual or customary way of thinking.

I mostly think

Replaces "generally" with "mostly", emphasizing that the thought applies in the majority of cases.

In general, I think

Inverts the structure, placing "in general" at the beginning for emphasis.

I tend to think

Uses "tend to think" to express a inclination or leaning toward a particular thought.

I often think

Replaces "generally" with "often", indicating frequent but not necessarily universal thought.

My general thought is

Changes the structure to focus on the "general thought" itself.

As a rule, I think

Introduces "as a rule", suggesting a guideline for thinking.

More often than not, I think

Replaces "generally" with a more descriptive phrase indicating a higher probability.

For the most part, I think

Highlights that the thought applies in most situations, though not necessarily all.

FAQs

How can I use "I generally think" in a sentence?

Use "I generally think" to express a common or usual belief or opinion. For instance, "I generally think that exercise is important for overall health" indicates a belief you hold, but allows for the possibility of exceptions.

What can I say instead of "I generally think"?

You can use alternatives like "I usually think", "I tend to think", or "in my opinion" depending on the nuance you want to convey.

Is "I generally think" formal or informal?

"I generally think" is relatively neutral and can be used in both formal and informal contexts, although more formal settings might benefit from alternatives such as "it is my considered opinion" or similar phrases.

What's the difference between "I generally think" and "I always think"?

"I generally think" implies a belief that is true in most cases, but with possible exceptions. "I always think", on the other hand, suggests a belief that is true without exception. The former is less absolute and more open to considering alternative viewpoints.