a general measure of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a general measure of" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing a broad assessment or evaluation of a particular concept, quality, or phenomenon. Example: "The survey provides a general measure of customer satisfaction across various demographics."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

By comparison, a general measure of the wage inflation rate encompasses most of the relevant indictors.

Independent

The second part detailed a general measure of environmentalism and asked questions such as: are you a member of an environmental group?

The Guardian

Years of education provide me with a general measure of human capital.

IZA Journal of Migration

Also they have done MIDAS test as a general measure of migraine severity.

The Journal of Headache and Pain

Respiration can be considered as a general measure of the microbial activity.

Applied Water Science

The Human Development Index (HDI) (UNDP 2014) is a general measure of country level human development.

Large-scale Assessments in Education

Validity was established through the measure's significant positive relation to a general measure of parenting attitudes.

Children and Youth Services Review

Consistency ratio is a general measure of the comparative judgments' goodness in building up decision matrices within the AHP.

Environmental Systems Research

The Gini coefficient is a general measure of the income inequality among the population within a region.

International Journal of Disaster Risk Science

The baseline length repeatabilities as a general measure of accuracy of baseline length determinations improve for the turbulence-based solution.

Earth, Planets and Space

The study investigated both consummatory behaviors in relation to restrained drinking, restrained eating, and a general measure of self-control.

Addictive Behaviors

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the phrase "a general measure of", ensure that the context clarifies the scope and limitations of the measurement. It's crucial to indicate what aspects are being broadly evaluated and to acknowledge any potential nuances that might be overlooked by this generalized approach.

Common error

Avoid implying a higher degree of precision than is warranted when using "a general measure of". Remember that it provides a broad overview and might not capture specific details. Instead of saying 'this is a definitive measure', opt for 'this provides a general sense of'.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a general measure of" functions as a qualifier to describe a method or metric that provides a broad, rather than precise, assessment of something. It indicates that the measurement is not intended to capture fine-grained details but rather to offer an overview. This is supported by Ludwig's examples, which showcase the phrase in various contexts to describe different types of broad evaluations.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

69%

News & Media

14%

Formal & Business

4%

Less common in

Academia

3%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "a general measure of" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression, as confirmed by Ludwig AI. It serves to describe methods or metrics that offer a broad, high-level assessment rather than a precise, detailed evaluation. Predominantly found in scientific and news contexts, the phrase's communicative purpose is to set expectations for the scope and accuracy of a measurement. When using this phrase, it's important to avoid overstating the precision of the assessment and to clarify its limitations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a fundamental measure of

This alternative emphasizes the foundational or essential quality of the measurement.

a broad indicator of

This alternative emphasizes the function of indicating something in a general way, shifting the focus slightly from measurement to representation.

a comprehensive indicator of

This alternative highlights the completeness and thoroughness of the indicator.

a standard gauge for

This alternative highlights the use of an established and conventional method for evaluation.

a common metric for

This alternative highlights the standardized and widely accepted nature of the measurement.

a representative metric for

This alternative suggests the metric is chosen to represent a larger group or phenomenon.

a basic assessment of

This alternative suggests a simpler, more fundamental evaluation.

a typical assessment of

This alternative focuses on the typical or usual method of evaluation.

an overall evaluation of

This alternative emphasizes the comprehensive nature of the evaluation, looking at the bigger picture.

a rough estimate of

This alternative implies an approximate calculation, lacking precision.

FAQs

How can I use "a general measure of" in a sentence?

You can use "a general measure of" to describe something that broadly assesses a particular attribute or characteristic. For example, "The survey serves as "a general measure of" public opinion on the new policy".

What are some alternatives to "a general measure of"?

Alternatives to "a general measure of" include "a broad indicator of", "a common metric for", or "an overall evaluation of", depending on the specific context.

Is "a general measure of" the same as "a precise measurement of"?

No, "a general measure of" implies a broad assessment, while "a precise measurement of" suggests a more accurate and detailed evaluation. They are not interchangeable; use the phrase that best reflects the level of detail in your assessment.

When is it appropriate to use "a general measure of" in scientific writing?

In scientific writing, it's appropriate to use "a general measure of" when you're describing a metric that provides a high-level overview or an initial assessment. Ensure you acknowledge the limitations of the metric and consider complementing it with more specific analyses. For instance, "body mass index" (BMI) can serve as "a general measure of" obesity.