a general survey

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a general survey" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when discussing a broad overview of a topic or when summarizing a large amount of information. Example: "In order to understand the current state of the economy, let's first take a general survey of the major industries and their performance over the past year."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

A general survey of British history is not an interesting book.

The New York Times

"We don't think there's much value in a general survey of proteins," said J. Craig Venter, the Celera president.

The New York Times

Its annual report will include a general survey of rights in the region, rather than a kind of blacklist.

The Economist

"We will look to produce a general survey of what has gone wrong in Nigeria, as well as investigate specific cases of rights abuses," Mr Oputa said.

The Guardian

Though "Sex and the Citadel" works well enough as a general survey, it lacks the thoughtfulness to reconcile all the contradictory sexual attitudes it describes.

The New York Times - Books

It is commonly used to estimate the gestational age of the fetus, identify fetal number, assess growth, determine fetal heart activity, and provide a general survey of fetal anatomy.

Encyclopedia Britannica

report released Wednesday did not provide a general survey of what had gone wrong in Europe, but focused on mistakes in Greece's first bailout in 2010, which totaled about $143 billion.

The New York Times

A general survey of the ruins was made by Israeli archaeologists in 1955 56, and the entire mountaintop was excavated by Yigael Yadin in 1963 65, assisted by thousands of volunteers from around the world.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Conrad expressed his disappointment in a long letter, noting his belief that a "general survey" might be used to liberate him from the obsession with his "sea life which has about as much bearing on my literary existence, on my quality as a writer, as the enumeration of drawing-rooms which Thackeray frequented could have had on his gifts as a great novelist".

The New Yorker

A general survey of the different passivation mechanisms is presented.

Electrochimica Acta

A general survey of jamming techniques is presented in [20].

EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When starting a research project or report, use "a general survey" to describe the initial phase of gathering background information.

Common error

Avoid using "a general survey" when you are actually conducting a detailed analysis of specific aspects. A general survey provides a broad overview, while a specific analysis delves into particular details.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a general survey" functions primarily as a noun phrase, often serving as the subject or object of a sentence. It describes the act of providing a broad and high-level overview of a particular topic or area. Ludwig AI confirms its common and grammatically correct usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

48%

News & Media

34%

Encyclopedias

5%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Wiki

1%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a general survey" is a frequently used and grammatically sound noun phrase that indicates a broad overview or examination of a topic. As highlighted by Ludwig AI, it is suitable for describing the initial stages of research or reporting, and is commonly found in scientific, news, and encyclopedic sources. When writing, remember to use "a general survey" when you want to give a broad overview without diving into specific details, and consider related phrases like "a broad overview" or "a comprehensive review" for variety.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a broad overview

Emphasizes the comprehensiveness of the summary.

a comprehensive review

Highlights the thoroughness and detail of the assessment.

a general investigation

Focuses more on the act of investigating rather than a broad overview.

an overall assessment

Stresses the evaluative aspect of the survey.

a wide-ranging study

Implies a more in-depth and extensive examination.

a summary overview

Suggests a synthesis of already available information.

a sweeping analysis

Suggests a more critical and interpretive perspective.

an overview

Shorter and more concise, lacking the implication of a systematic method.

a preliminary assessment

Focuses on the initial stage of evaluation, before deeper analysis.

a cursory examination

Implies a quick and superficial look, less detailed than a general survey.

FAQs

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

You can use "a general survey" to describe an initial overview or examination of a topic, such as: "The report begins with "a general survey" of the current economic climate."

What is "a broad overview" of something?

A broad overview presents the main points of a subject without going into all the fine details. It aims to give a general understanding before diving deeper. It's similar to "a general survey" but often less structured.

What are some alternatives to "a general survey"?

Alternatives include "a broad overview", "a comprehensive review", or "an overall assessment". The best choice depends on the specific context and the level of detail you want to convey.

When is it appropriate to use "a general survey" instead of "a detailed analysis"?

"A general survey" is appropriate when you need a broad understanding of a topic, while "a detailed analysis" is used when you need to examine specific aspects in depth. A survey is often a starting point before conducting a more detailed analysis.