a generally accurate

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a generally accurate" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when describing something that is mostly correct or true, but may have some minor inaccuracies. Example: "The report provides a generally accurate overview of the current market trends."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

Although providing less information than active surveillance, aggregated antibiogram data are a generally accurate way for health departments to generate needed community-specific estimates of pneumococcal resistance.

Emerging Infectious Diseases

It is still regarded by many people, even in the literate Western world, as a generally accurate likeness.

The New Yorker

The Vita Karoli Magni is brief and limited in scope and detail, but it provides a generally accurate and direct account of the period.

Encyclopedia Britannica

It is difficult to compare these top rates precisely because state and city taxes in the U.S. can add another ten per cent or more, and the deductibility and income-qualification rules in each country are different — but the top line provides a generally accurate sense of how much income governments in industrialized countries took from their wealthiest filers during the nineteen-seventies: a lot.

The New Yorker

This suggests that the microarray gene level estimates are a generally accurate reflection of transcript level in the cell population.

Plosone

We believe activity numbers provide a generally accurate picture of the amount of effort dedicated to achieving one particular step, and this assumption was also deemed valid by the HPL participants.

BMC Health Services Research

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

Darwin: A Graphic Biography provides a lighthearted, generally accurate, and overall delightful account of Darwin's life and work in the form of a graphic novel.

Evolution: Education and Outreach

Although he grieved over the downfall of Constantinople and the decline of the Byzantine Empire, he admired Mehmed and provided a nonpartisan and generally accurate history of the Turkish invasion.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Golfshot: Golf GPS ($30) is a nicely designed and generally accurate finder of golf ranges for the iPhone.

The New York Times - Tech

And you get Mr. Obama's paeans to unfettered markets — before he dares to venture a critique that, while generally accurate, is far too genteel.

The New York Times

The Apple Watch will offer a lot more independent features than were previously announced, according to a new leak from the generally accurate 9to5Mac's Mark Gurman.

TechCrunch

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a generally accurate" when you want to convey that something is correct most of the time but might have some minor inaccuracies. It's suitable when complete precision isn't necessary or expected.

Common error

Avoid using "a generally accurate" when describing something that needs to be absolutely precise, such as scientific measurements or legal documents. In such cases, opt for stronger terms like "precise" or "exact".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a generally accurate" functions as a descriptive adjective phrase, modifying a noun to indicate the degree of accuracy. As Ludwig AI points out, it implies that something is mostly correct but may contain minor inaccuracies.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

30%

News & Media

40%

Encyclopedias

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Wiki

10%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a generally accurate" is a useful phrase for describing something that is mostly correct but not entirely precise. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically correct and suitable for a variety of contexts, including science, news, and encyclopedic content. While not as strong as "completely accurate", it sets realistic expectations and acknowledges potential minor inaccuracies. When writing, consider whether the context requires absolute precision or if "a generally accurate" representation is sufficient. Alternatives such as "a mostly correct" or "a largely precise" may be appropriate depending on the desired emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a mostly correct

Emphasizes a high degree of correctness with only slight deviations.

a largely precise

Highlights precision as the primary attribute, suggesting few significant errors.

an approximately correct

Focuses on the approximation aspect, implying a degree of estimation.

a reasonably accurate

Indicates a good level of accuracy that meets certain expectations or standards.

a substantially correct

Stresses the substantial portion that is correct, potentially downplaying smaller errors.

a broadly correct

Highlights the wide scope of correctness, suitable for general overviews.

a roughly precise

Suggests precision to a certain extent, with room for minor discrepancies.

a fundamentally accurate

Implies correctness in its most essential aspects, despite possible surface-level issues.

a virtually correct

Emphasizes that the statement is correct to all intents and purposes.

a commonly accurate

Refers to accuracy within a specific context, suggesting it is usually true.

FAQs

How can I use "a generally accurate" in a sentence?

You can use "a generally accurate" to describe information, accounts, or representations that are mostly correct. For example, "The historian provided a generally accurate account of the war."

What's a good alternative to "a generally accurate"?

Alternatives include "a mostly correct" assessment, "a largely precise" estimation, or "a reasonably accurate" depiction depending on the context.

Is it appropriate to use "a generally accurate" in formal writing?

Yes, "a generally accurate" is suitable for formal writing when you need to convey that something is mostly correct without claiming absolute precision. However, consider the specific context and whether a more precise term might be more appropriate.

What's the difference between "a generally accurate" and "completely accurate"?

"A generally accurate" implies that there may be minor inaccuracies or exceptions, while "completely accurate" means there are no errors or deviations. Use "a generally accurate" when some level of imprecision is acceptable or expected.