an overall design

USAGE SUMMARY

"an overall design" is a grammatically correct phrase and can be used in written English.
It refers to the complete or overall plan or arrangement of something. Example: "The architect presented an overall design for the new office building, including the layout, materials, and color schemes."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

35 human-written examples

An example of such an overall design was Glaser's insert poster (1967) for a record album by Bob Dylan.

Encyclopedia Britannica

But an overall design meant to attract women, she said, was smart.

The New York Times

And while Mount has borrowed much from Powell, what he hasn't taken is the sense of an overall design.

The New York Times - Books

Like a physicist, Bismarck analyzed the principal elements of each situation and then used them in an overall design.

The New York Times

The resulting mishmash, though still part of an overall design plan, resembles a more organically built urban landscape.

The New York Times

The result is a record with "more of an overall design than we've had previously", with plenty of the duo's trademark vocals, drums and piano – but with a lot of new sonic colours added to the palate.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

25 human-written examples

Mr. Kilgore designed an overall plan and brought in a local garden designer to advise him on plantings.

The New York Times

This article summarizes developments in linear repetitive control (RC) that represent an effective overall design approach, allowing the user to optimize performance.

European Journal of Control

Walter Graff, the group's deputy director, said that the hut ended up with a better overall design, including widened hallways, a porch and the elimination of steps up to the bathrooms.

The New York Times

In general, such a sequential synthesis approach leads to a suboptimal overall design.

Computer Aided Chemical Engineering

The hybrid material is designed to increase the case's overall durability, while also saving weight and making for a thinner overall design.

TechCrunch

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing complex projects or systems, use "an overall design" to clearly communicate that you are referring to the complete, encompassing plan, not just individual components.

Common error

Avoid using "an overall design" when you are only describing a part of the design or a specific aspect. Ensure that your description truly reflects the entire scope of the design to prevent misleading your audience.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "an overall design" functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as the object or subject complement in a sentence. Ludwig examples show it describing plans, concepts, or arrangements in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

31%

Science

31%

Encyclopedias

12%

Less common in

Wiki

9%

Formal & Business

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "an overall design" is a common noun phrase used to describe a comprehensive plan or arrangement. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and suitability across various contexts, including news, science, and encyclopedias. While alternatives like "a comprehensive design" or "a holistic design" exist, "an overall design" is effective for communicating the broad scope of a plan. Remember to reserve it for scenarios encompassing the entirety of a system, and avoid redundancy by omitting extra uses of "overall". This phrase can be used neutrally.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a comprehensive design

Replaces "overall" with "comprehensive", emphasizing the thoroughness of the design.

a holistic design

Uses "holistic" to suggest the design considers the whole system or concept.

a complete design

Substitutes "overall" with "complete", highlighting the finished nature of the design.

a general layout

Focuses on the arrangement and structure of the design using the term "layout".

a global design

Employs "global" to indicate the design's broad scope and encompassing nature.

a master design

Highlights the controlling or principal aspect of the design.

a total design

Expresses the completeness of the design with "total".

a unified design

Focuses on how elements of the design work together.

an integrated design

Emphasizes the combined and coordinated nature of the design's elements.

an encompassing design

Replaces "overall" with "encompassing", stressing the inclusive nature of the design.

FAQs

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

You can use "an overall design" to describe a comprehensive plan or arrangement. For example, "The architect presented "an overall design" for the new museum."

What's a good substitute for "an overall design"?

Alternatives to "an overall design" include "a comprehensive design", "a holistic design", or "a general layout", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it redundant to say "overall overall design"?

Yes, using "overall" twice is redundant. Stick to just "an overall design" to clearly indicate the comprehensive nature of the plan or scheme.

What does "an overall design" emphasize compared to "a specific design"?

"An overall design" emphasizes the entire scope and integration of different elements, whereas "a specific design" refers to a particular, possibly isolated, aspect of a broader plan. The former is comprehensive, the latter is targeted.