a generally accepted idea

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a generally accepted idea" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to a concept or belief that is widely recognized and agreed upon by a group or society. Example: "The notion that exercise is beneficial for health is a generally accepted idea among medical professionals."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

it is a generally accepted idea that women who give birth at home are less fearful of giving birth than women who give birth in a hospital.

Midwifery

It is a generally accepted idea that environments and cell-cell interactions shape the species composition in communities [ 9- 11].

Biotechnology for Biofuels

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

This result, surprising at first glance given the generally accepted idea of a vocal performance decreasing with age, is in fact consistent with available literature: in a sample of 1,875 teachers of primary and secondary education, Kooijman and al. [ 26] observed a significant decrease of voice complaints during the career.

BMC Public Health

A special designed Al / Cu target built from Cu and Al parts was used to investigate the generally accepted idea that the ISEE coefficient of a target is a linear composition of the ISEE coefficient of its components.

Surface and Coatings Technology

In his recent book Cycles of Time, mathematician Roger Penrose takes issue with the generally accepted idea that the universe will eventually (in, say, a few trillion years) become an infinitely lifeless, cold soup of pointlessly drifting photons.

The Guardian - Music

Given the generally accepted idea of how Earth got its big moon through an improbable, dramatic collision with a Mars-sized body that knocked a huge chunk of Earth loose astronomers estimate that only 1% of all Earth-like planets in the universe might actually have such a hefty companion.

Science Magazine

The generally accepted idea behind high street fashion stores is that you walk in empty handed and leave juggling bags of shiny new things.

The Guardian

Rising numbers of searches are driving a need to retrain emergency workers, police officers and volunteers around the country who say they throw out just about every generally accepted idea when hunting for people who are, in many ways, lost from the inside out.

The New York Times

Based on the generally accepted idea that values explain attitudes and behaviors, there are different approaches to capture values (Vinson et al. 1977).

Fashion and Textiles

In contradiction to the generally accepted idea, the discharge capacity is controlled by the rate controlling step at the end of discharge, the discharge capacity has no relationship with the rate controlling step in discharge process.

Electrochimica Acta

In contrast to the generally accepted idea that fragmentation reduces plant reproduction, reproductive success may increase in sparse populations or increase in response to decreases in LNS in C. agristis.

Botanical Studies

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a generally accepted idea", ensure it's genuinely recognized by a significant portion of the relevant community or field. Avoid presenting personal opinions as generally accepted ideas without proper backing.

Common error

Avoid presenting an idea as "a generally accepted idea" if it's still debated or lacks widespread support. This can weaken your argument and undermine your credibility.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a generally accepted idea" functions as a noun phrase, often serving as a subject complement or object in a sentence. It identifies a concept or belief that is widely recognized and agreed upon within a particular community or field. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

50%

News & Media

50%

Encyclopedias

0%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "a generally accepted idea" is a grammatically sound and relatively common way to refer to a belief or concept widely recognized as true. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it's suitable for various contexts, ranging from scientific discourse to news reporting. When using this phrase, ensure the idea genuinely holds broad acceptance within the relevant community. Alternatives such as ""a widespread belief"" or ""a common understanding"" can offer nuanced emphasis depending on the specific context. Always avoid overstating the degree of acceptance to maintain credibility.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a widespread belief

Emphasizes the breadth of acceptance rather than the formal validation.

a common understanding

Focuses on shared comprehension rather than explicit agreement.

a prevailing notion

Highlights the current popularity and influence of the idea.

an established principle

Suggests a higher degree of formal recognition and long-standing acceptance.

a conventional wisdom

Implies the idea is traditional and widely believed, often without critical examination.

a received opinion

Highlights the idea being passed down and accepted from others.

a standard assumption

Focuses on the idea being taken for granted as a basis for further reasoning.

a mainstream view

Indicates the idea is held by the majority, positioning it within the dominant perspective.

a typical understanding

Emphasizes the idea is what most people would normally expect or assume.

a familiar concept

Focuses on how well known the idea is, suggesting it's easily recognized.

FAQs

How can I use "a generally accepted idea" in a sentence?

You can use "a generally accepted idea" to introduce a concept widely recognized as true or valid. For example, "It is "a generally accepted idea" that regular exercise improves overall health."

What are some alternatives to saying "a generally accepted idea"?

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

Is it always safe to assume a "generally accepted idea" is correct?

While "a generally accepted idea" suggests widespread agreement, it's crucial to remember that even widely held beliefs can be challenged or disproven over time. Critical evaluation is always advisable.

What's the difference between "a generally accepted idea" and "conventional wisdom"?

"A generally accepted idea" simply implies broad agreement. "Conventional wisdom" often implies that the idea is traditional and may not have been critically examined recently.