a general accord

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a general accord" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to a broad agreement or consensus among a group of people or parties. Example: "After much discussion, the committee reached a general accord on the proposed changes to the policy."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

And signs were accumulating of a general accord between the military and the Brotherhood over the terms of a new constitution expected to be ratified before the handover.

The New York Times

The apparent breakdown yesterday followed a lunchtime declaration by Republicans and Democrats in the Senate banking and the House Financial Services committees that they had come to a general accord on many outstanding issues.

The Washington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

In Homs on Thursday, gunmen killed a military engineer and wounded a general, according to the Syrian state news agency.

The New York Times

With the arrest of four men on suspicion of the crime, "they" have been identified as two retired military officers (a major and a general, according to the New York Times) and two employees of Desarrollos Energéticos S.A., the politically well-connected company that was trying to build a hydroelectric dam without the consent of the indigenous Lenca people.

University of California, Berkeley

Headley told investigators that he had a distant Pakistani relative who was a former deputy director of the ISI and an army general, according to Indian and US officials.

The Guardian

Pro-Russia rebels shot down a Ukrainian military helicopter in Slavyansk with portable surface-to-air missiles on Thursday, killing 14 people including an army general, according to the acting president, Oleksandr Turchynov.

The Guardian

The Colombian government and leftwing Farc rebels have agreed to resume peace talks which stalled over the kidnap of an army general, according to officials in Havana, where the talks have been taking place.

The Guardian

The agreement is the first of its kind between a major insurer and a state attorney general, according to the statement.

The New York Times

North Korea has replaced its hardline defence chief with a little-known army general, according to a state media report, in what outside analysts call an attempt to solidify Kim Jong-un's grip on the powerful military.

The Guardian

"It's a humanitarian mission and one that the North Koreans need to live up to their obligations on, as most nations do," said McKeague, a retired Air Force major general, according to a recording of his speech.

The Washington Post

North Korea has replaced its hard-line armed forces minister with a relatively unknown general, according to state-run news agency KCNA.

BBC

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a general accord" when you want to convey that parties have reached a broad agreement on fundamental terms, but there may still be details to iron out. It's suitable for formal and semi-formal contexts.

Common error

Avoid using "a general accord" if the agreement is only superficial or if significant disagreements remain. It implies a more substantial consensus than a mere willingness to continue discussions.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a general accord" functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as the object of a verb (e.g., "reach," "achieve") or the complement of a preposition (e.g., "in"). Ludwig's examples illustrate its use in describing agreements between parties.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

66%

Academia

17%

Science

17%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a general accord" is a noun phrase indicating a broad agreement or consensus. Ludwig AI shows it's grammatically correct and usable, though relatively rare. It commonly appears in News & Media, and is often used to describe agreements in formal or semi-formal settings. While phrases like "a broad agreement" or "common consensus" can serve as alternatives, it's important to reserve "a general accord" for situations where there's a substantial, even if not fully detailed, level of agreement.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a general agreement

More common and can be used as direct synonym

a broad agreement

Emphasizes the extent of the agreement rather than its overall nature.

a common consensus

Highlights shared agreement among a group, adding emphasis through redundancy.

a mutual understanding

Focuses on shared comprehension and acceptance between parties.

an overall agreement

Similar to "a broad agreement" but can suggest a more holistic perspective.

a settled agreement

Implies the agreement is finalized and unlikely to change.

a basic consensus

Suggests a fundamental level of agreement, possibly with some details unresolved.

an informal understanding

Agreement that is not formally documented or legally binding.

a tacit agreement

Agreement that is understood without being explicitly stated.

a meeting of minds

Suggests a strong alignment of viewpoints, leading to agreement.

FAQs

How can I use "a general accord" in a sentence?

You can use "a general accord" to describe an agreement on basic principles, as in "After lengthy negotiations, the countries reached "a general accord" on trade regulations".

What is the difference between "a general accord" and "a specific agreement"?

"A general accord" refers to a broad understanding or consensus, while "a specific agreement" involves detailed terms and conditions. The former is less precise than the latter.

Which is more appropriate for formal writing, "a general accord" or "a broad agreement"?

"A general accord" often carries a slightly more formal tone than "a broad agreement", making it suitable for official reports and academic papers.

What can I say instead of "a general accord" to sound less formal?

For a less formal tone, you could use phrases like "a basic agreement", "common ground", or "mutual understanding" depending on the specific context.