an overall description

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "an overall description" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when providing a general summary or outline of a subject or topic. Example: "In this report, we will provide an overall description of the project's objectives and outcomes."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

Academia

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

44 human-written examples

The aim of this study is to give an overall description of the system.

Energy Conversion and Management

Ease of navigation This might be just an overall description with some notes, or a mapping activity.

Cornell University

In this paper an overall description of the experiment is given, including the design, construction and performance of the telescopes.

Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment

This paper presents an overall description of a new time frequency signal analysis method, called frequency slice wavelet transform (FSWT).

Mechanical Systems and Signal Processing

Basic weather elements such as wind speed, air temperature, and air pressure are discussed first to present an overall description of the regional climate.

Journal of Wind Engineering and Industrial Aerodynamics

This paper gives an overall description of the requirements from physics and operation viewpoints and introduces the design at the conceptual level.

Fusion Engineering and Design

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

16 human-written examples

This work is currently being further developed to include damage modes in the composite backing plate and, hence, yield a complete overall description of deformation and damage processes.

International Journal of Impact Engineering

This number is quite high, indicating a similar overall description of the relative influence of different sectors in the two networks.

Plosone

In this paper I do not intend to give an exact and overall description of the transformation of the Hungarian economy let alone an explanation of the causes of the collapse of the socialist experiment in Eastern Europe.

Harvard University

An over overall description of the aims can be found in Aarestrup et al. (2012), and all the methods developed are available online (CGE 2014).

Functional and Integrative Genomics

In this view, the current work is an experimental investigation for the need, in static, of a higher-order overall description.

International Journal of Solids and Structures

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "an overall description", ensure it sets the stage for more detailed information to follow. It should provide the essential context without delving into specifics.

Common error

Avoid using "an overall description" as a substitute for providing specific details. Ensure your summary is informative and relevant to the topic at hand.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "an overall description" functions as a noun phrase providing a general introduction or summary of a topic. As confirmed by Ludwig, it's grammatically correct and widely used, serving as a foundation for further elaboration.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

68%

Academia

16%

News & Media

8%

Less common in

Formal & Business

4%

Wiki

2%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "an overall description" is a grammatically sound and commonly used phrase for providing a general summary or introduction to a topic. Ludwig confirms its correctness and wide applicability, especially within scientific and academic contexts. When using this phrase, it's best practice to provide enough context without getting into excessive detail, setting the stage for more specific information to follow. Consider alternatives like "a general overview" or "a comprehensive summary" to add variety to your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a general overview

Replaces "description" with "overview" focusing on a broad, less detailed summary.

a comprehensive summary

Substitutes "overall description" with "comprehensive summary", highlighting completeness and conciseness.

a broad outline

Replaces "description" with "outline", emphasizing the structural aspect of the summary.

a holistic account

Uses "holistic account" instead of "overall description", stressing the interconnectedness of the elements.

a complete picture

Replaces "description" with "complete picture", highlighting the visual and comprehensive nature of the summary.

a sweeping survey

Emphasizes the broad and inclusive nature of the description.

a bird's-eye view

Implies a high-level, general perspective.

a synopsis

Offers a concise summary of the main points.

a digest

Suggests a condensed and easily understood version.

a rundown

Provides an informal summary of the key information.

FAQs

How can I use "an overall description" in a sentence?

"An overall description" is used to introduce a general summary or overview of a topic. For example, "This report provides an overall description of the project's objectives".

What are some alternatives to saying "an overall description"?

You can use alternatives such as "a general overview", "a comprehensive summary", or "a broad outline", depending on the context.

When is it appropriate to use "an overall description"?

It's appropriate to use "an overall description" when you want to provide a high-level summary before diving into more specific details. It's useful for setting the context and giving the audience a general understanding of the topic.

How detailed should "an overall description" be?

An overall description should be concise and focus on the main points. It should provide a general understanding without going into excessive detail. The level of detail depends on the audience and the purpose of the communication.