a general opinion

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a general opinion" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to a widely held belief or viewpoint that is not specific to any individual or group. Example: "In a general opinion, most people believe that exercise is beneficial for health."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

27 human-written examples

"It's a general opinion.

The Guardian - Sport

That it will come soon is a general opinion tonight".

The New York Times

On the eve of the election there was a general opinion that the presidential race was close.

Encyclopedia Britannica

"To figure out the outlook for high-yield bonds, you have to have a general opinion on the economy and rates," Mr. Tananbaum said.

The New York Times

In spite of these cost differentials there is a general opinion that RTA cases are better managed in private health care facilities.

Health Economics Review

I start with a brief summary of the results and conclusions as a way to show that I have understood the paper and have a general opinion.

Science Magazine

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

33 human-written examples

But I'm a general-opinion kinda guy.

TechCrunch

Even if they have a general view of their opinion, voters often lack strong conviction about specific elements, and can be swayed by the right rhetoric.

TechCrunch

However, the data do provide a general view of the opinions of decision makers about the questions which is of value.

Globalization and Health

However, our approach suggests a more general opinion formation model with a common updating rule for all (non-diagonal and diagonal) entries of the social interaction matrix T t), which are updated according to the pairwise distances of agents' beliefs at any given time instance t.

Complex & Intelligent Systems

It cites an Attorney General opinion from the 1850s, which defends the president's preemptive power on the grounds that "the act of clemency and grace is applied to the crime itself, not to the mere formal proof of the crime".

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a general opinion", consider specifying whose opinion it is (e.g., "a general opinion among scientists" or "a general public opinion") to add clarity.

Common error

Don't assume that "a general opinion" is always accurate or well-informed. Always evaluate the basis and potential biases of the opinion before accepting it as fact.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a general opinion" functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as the subject or object of a sentence. It denotes a widespread or common belief held by many people, as shown in Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

40%

News & Media

36%

Formal & Business

8%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

4%

Wiki

8%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a general opinion" is a common noun phrase used to describe a widespread belief or viewpoint. Ludwig AI confirms that the phrase is grammatically correct and suitable for various contexts, ranging from scientific discussions to news reports. While the phrase is generally neutral in tone, it's important to remember that "a general opinion" is not necessarily a fact and should be evaluated critically. Alternative phrases like "a common view" or "a widespread belief" can be used to add nuance to your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a general consensus

Highlights a collective agreement.

a widespread belief

Emphasizes the extent to which the belief is held.

a common view

Focuses on the shared perspective.

a prevailing sentiment

Highlights the emotional tone of the shared view.

a public perception

Focuses on the view held by the general public.

a collective understanding

Highlights the shared comprehension of a topic.

a shared consensus

Emphasizes the agreement among people.

a popular notion

Stresses the widespread acceptance of an idea.

a conventional wisdom

Implies an established and widely accepted belief.

a received wisdom

Implies the opinion is traditional and widely accepted.

FAQs

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

You can use "a general opinion" to describe a belief that is widely held. For example, "There is "a general opinion" that exercise is good for your health".

What's a good substitute for "a general opinion"?

Alternatives include "a common view", "a widespread belief", or "a prevailing sentiment" depending on the specific context.

Is it better to say "general opinion" or "a general opinion"?

Both are grammatically correct, but using "a" makes it sound more conversational and less formal. "General opinion" without "a" often appears in more academic or analytical contexts.

How does "a general opinion" differ from "a consensus"?

"A general opinion" suggests a widespread belief that may not be unanimous or formally agreed upon. A "consensus" implies a more formal agreement or widespread acceptance among a group.