a general category

USAGE SUMMARY

"a general category" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it when referring to a broad classification that encompasses various specific items or concepts. For example, "Animals can be divided into a general category of mammals." Alternative expressions include "a broad category" and "a wide category."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

52 human-written examples

A general category comprising six serious crimes swelled 75percentt.

The New York Times

Most environmental law falls into a general category of laws known as "command and control".

Encyclopedia Britannica

Men as a general category are disappointing and traitorous — in money and family and work and power.

The New Yorker

Many current disorders, including paranoid, schizoid, antisocial, narcissistic and obsessive-compulsive disorders, would be reformulated into a general category.

The New York Times

In many parts of the world there have been tribal arts, some of which are sometimes bracketed with the "primitive" in a general category of ethnic art and are sometimes considered as folk art.

Encyclopedia Britannica

The similarity in the two bodies of law will become even more noticeable if, as has been proposed, American law comes to abandon its traditional distinctions between easements, profits, real covenants, and equitable servitudes and adopts instead, like the civil law, a general category of servitudes.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

8 human-written examples

For example, two genes that share a specific function like ' negative regulation of systemic arterial blood pressure' are much more likely to be functionally similar than a pair of genes sharing a more general category like ' metabolism'.

Bioinformatics

(This still allows for nested categories, so that something may belong to both a more specific category like substance and a more general category like individual).

SEP

Since a pathway can be denoted as a set of genes, pathway enrichment belongs to a more general category of methods termed gene set enrichment.

BMC Systems Biology

Many traits were measured at multiple ages (sometimes just days or months apart), both among and within studies, and so we added a field which combined specific age data into a more general category termed 'life history stage'.

Evolutionary Applications

Investigators often work with a subset of the MDDR that Schuffenhauer and colleagues associated with a specific biological target in their ontology, as opposed to, for instance, a more general category such as "anti-cancer" (7) (Table 1).

Biochemistry

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a general category", ensure that the context clarifies what specific elements are included within that category. Providing examples can enhance clarity.

Common error

Avoid using "a general category" when a more specific classification is appropriate. Overly broad categories can lack precision and reduce the informative value of your writing.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a general category" functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as a subject complement or object within a sentence. It identifies a broad classification to which specific items or concepts belong. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage across various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

34%

News & Media

28%

Encyclopedias

12%

Less common in

Wiki

4%

Formal & Business

2%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a general category" is a common and grammatically sound phrase used to denote a broad classification of items or concepts. As Ludwig AI confirms, its neutral register makes it suitable for diverse contexts, ranging from scientific literature to news articles. While alternatives like "a broad classification" or "an overarching category" exist, the key to effective usage lies in ensuring clarity and avoiding overly broad generalizations. Remember to provide context or examples to enhance understanding of the category being discussed.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a broad classification

Emphasizes the wide scope of the grouping.

a wide classification

Highlights the extensive range included in the grouping.

a comprehensive classification

Stresses the thorough and complete nature of the grouping.

an overarching category

Suggests a category that covers or includes other more specific categories.

a blanket term

Implies a term that covers many different things without specific distinctions.

a generic type

Focuses on the common characteristics of items within the category.

a common grouping

Highlights that the category is widely used and understood.

an inclusive group

Focuses on the aspect of containing or including different elements.

a higher-level classification

Highlights the position of the category in a hierarchical system.

a simplified classification

Emphasizes the category's ease of understanding.

FAQs

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

You can use "a general category" to group similar items or concepts together. For example, "Fruits fall into "a general category" of foods rich in vitamins."

What is an alternative to using "a general category"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives like "a broad classification", "an overarching category", or "a blanket term".

What does "a general category" typically refer to?

"A general category" refers to a broad grouping of items, concepts, or entities that share common characteristics or attributes, allowing for simplified classification and analysis.

When is it appropriate to use "a general category" instead of a more specific term?

Use "a general category" when you want to refer to a group of items without focusing on their specific differences, or when the specific details are not essential to the discussion.