a generally new

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a generally new" is not correct in standard written English.
It can be used when describing something that is mostly or typically new, but the phrasing is awkward and may confuse readers. Example: "The product is a generally new concept in the market, aiming to revolutionize the industry."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

This study is startling but not, per se, a generally new finding.

Huffington Post

In the 1927 renumbering, Route 6 was assigned to the route across northern New Jersey, using the old Route 5 from Delaware to Netcong, Route 12 from Hackettstown to Paterson, and a generally new alignment parallel to Route 10 from Paterson to the proposed George Washington Bridge; the old Route 10 alignment between Paterson and Edgewater was to become Route 5.

Wikipedia

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

A: Generally the newer LEDs will be 50,000 hours… So a home setting you're talking 30+ years.

TechCrunch

Generally, new development lowered a resort's score.

The New York Times

Tim Read, Adastra's boss, reckons the project has a net present value of $459m.Freelance miningMr Read's firm is betting that Congo will not go back to war, and that its government which has introduced a generally admired new mining law will respect property rights, or at least those of big investors.

The Economist

Generally, new world, inexpensive wines will not improve.

WikiHow

West Glacier, half an hour from the Kalispell airport, is generally newer, and sprawls.

The New York Times - Travel

Acute myopia is not an altogether unusual presentation to an optometrist and generally a new myopia patient does not cause alarm.

BMC Pediatrics

The initial public offering last week of Aquila Inc., an electricity and natural-gas wholesaler, was a decided success: its shares traded up to $31.50 from an offering price of $24 in a generally inhospitable market for new issues.

The New York Times

Is Fox's "Terra Nova," with Steven Spielberg's name at the top of its long list of executive producers, the best of a generally unremarkable bunch of new network shows this fall?

The New York Times - Arts

I take a generally pessimistic view of new sites, assuming that I'll either not like them, or they won't stick around long enough for me to appreciate them.

TechCrunch

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Opt for alternatives like "mostly new" or "largely new" to improve clarity and grammatical correctness. While "a generally new" isn't inherently wrong, it can sound awkward.

Common error

Avoid directly modifying "new" with "generally". Instead of saying "a generally new approach", try specifying what aspect is new by using phrases like "a new approach in general" or "a mostly new approach".

Linguistic Context

The phrase, while attempting to function as a descriptive adjective modifying a noun, is grammatically awkward. Ludwig's examples suggest that it can be used but is not considered standard English. The primary function it aims to fulfill is describing the state of being mostly or typically new.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Wiki

25%

Science

25%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "a generally new" isn't strictly incorrect, Ludwig AI marks it as non-standard and suggests it's best to avoid it in favor of clearer alternatives. Grammatically, it's awkward, and its communicative purpose—to indicate something is mostly new—is better served by phrases like "mostly new" or "largely new". The phrase appears rarely, primarily in News & Media sources, but its overall usage is infrequent enough to warrant caution. For improved clarity and precision, consider opting for more conventional phrasings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a mostly new

Replaces "generally" with "mostly" for a more standard phrasing.

a largely new

Substitutes "generally" with "largely" to convey a similar meaning with better grammatical flow.

a relatively new

Indicates something is new in comparison to something else, slightly altering the focus.

a fairly new

Similar to "relatively new", but suggests a moderate level of newness.

a substantially new

Emphasizes the degree of newness, implying a significant change.

a primarily new

Focuses on the principal aspect of being new.

a predominantly new

Highlights that newness is the most noticeable characteristic.

a commonly new

Describes something frequently new, if such a thing existed.

a consistently new

Suggests that something is always new, which might not always be the intention.

a freshly new

Emphasizes the recentness and perhaps the refreshing quality of something new.

FAQs

Is it grammatically correct to say "a generally new"?

While not strictly incorrect, the phrase "a generally new" is considered awkward. Ludwig AI suggests that it's better to use alternative phrasings like "mostly new" or "largely new".

What does "a generally new" mean?

The phrase attempts to convey that something is mostly or typically new. However, the phrasing is uncommon and may not be immediately clear. Using alternatives is recommended.

Which is better, "a generally new" or "a relatively new"?

"A relatively new" is generally preferred over "a generally new" because it is grammatically more standard and implies that something is new in comparison to something else. This provides better context.

How can I rephrase "a generally new" to sound more natural?

Consider using alternatives such as "a mostly new", "a largely new", or "a fairly new", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey. These options offer improved clarity and flow.