as a general question

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "as a general question" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when introducing a broad or overarching inquiry that is not specific to a particular context or situation. Example: "As a general question, how do you think technology impacts our daily lives?"

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

As a general question, what symptoms should I look out for personally?" Guardian contributor jimmccaul 03 June 2013 1 36pm @Dominic123456 - currently the vaccine is not available on the NHS for boys Dominic.

The Guardian

This was asked as a general question and not in relation to a particular screening programme.

Age and Ageing

We cast the question of uniformity of the evolutionary pressure within an ortholog group as a general question of predictability of the value of the correlation coefficient between entropy profiles of two its subgroups.

BMC Evolutionary Biology

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

Specific questions that should be asked in the oral interview, together with their underlying rationale, are as follows: A general question about the consumption of items that are not typically thought of as food by other people is an excellent way to begin an interview.

Plosone

They can, therefore, be viewed as asking a general question about different types of grammatical combination (inflectional or phrasal), and not about the internal structure of these processes (e.g., engaging verbal rather than nominal lexical representations).

Human Brain Mapping

"We would not go as far as other studios in putting a general question mark on whether it's worth staying in that country," said Dirk Lisowsky, regional managing director of Universal Pictures.

The New York Times

As a more general question, given two network systems one has a scale-free topology with hubs well connected to nodes of similar activity states, and the other is randomly structured regardless of the node activity state distribution which system will be more likely to collapse when facing intended attacks?

International Journal of Disaster Risk Science

The distributions of treatment plans and mechanics as well as general questions were presented as counts and relative frequencies.

Progress in Orthodontics

Participants were asked questions specific to their role in the program, as well as general questions about the program and its implementation; data from all types of participants were compiled to provide a summary evaluation of the program.

Global Health Action

These individuals were contacted by professional interviewers at the Danish National Centre for Social Research for a face-to-face interview that included questions on health, disability and health behaviour, as well as general questions regarding education, income and labour market status [ 19].

Health and Quality of Life Outcomes

Adverse effects associated with these drugs were assessed using an in-house adverse effect checklist, which included the most commonly encountered side effects of aripiprazole and haloperidol, as well as general questions on health issues, current illnesses or injuries, and concomitant medical treatments.

European Child and Adolescent Psychiatry

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "as a general question" to introduce inquiries that are not tied to a specific instance or case, setting the stage for a broader discussion.

Common error

Avoid using "as a general question" when the inquiry is clearly related to a specific situation. This phrase is most effective when the scope is genuinely broad.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "as a general question" functions as a prepositional phrase used to introduce a broad inquiry. It sets the stage for a discussion that is not tied to a specific instance or case, allowing for a more overarching perspective. As Ludwig AI states, the phrase is grammatically correct and serves to introduce a broad or overarching inquiry.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

33%

News & Media

33%

Encyclopedias

33%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "as a general question" is a grammatically sound and commonly used phrase to introduce broad inquiries. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and suitability for setting the stage for wider discussions. Its usage spans various contexts, including News & Media, Science, and Encyclopedias. When using the phrase, ensure that the question truly reflects a broader scope rather than a specific issue. For alternative phrasings, consider "generally speaking" or "in general terms".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

generally speaking

A direct synonym emphasizing the generality of the statement.

in a general sense

Highlights the overall understanding or interpretation.

in broad terms

Similar to "in general terms" but potentially more concise.

in general terms

Focuses on the broad scope rather than a specific question.

broadly speaking

Similar to "speaking generally" but with a slightly less formal tone.

speaking generally

Emphasizes the act of making a general statement.

from a general standpoint

Highlights the perspective from which the question is being asked.

on a broader scale

Shifts the focus to a larger perspective or context.

in the big picture

Focuses on the overall context or perspective.

as a rule of thumb

Introduces a general principle or guideline.

FAQs

How can I use "as a general question" in a sentence?

You can use "as a general question" to introduce a broad inquiry that isn't specific to a particular context. For example, "As a general question, what are the main challenges facing the education system today?"

What can I say instead of "as a general question"?

Alternatives include "generally speaking", "in general terms", or "broadly speaking", depending on the nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "as general question" without the 'a'?

No, it is not correct. The correct phrasing is "as a general question". The article 'a' is necessary because it precedes a singular, countable noun (question).

What's the difference between "as a general question" and "regarding a specific question"?

"As a general question" introduces a broad topic, while "regarding a specific question" narrows the focus to a particular issue. They serve opposite purposes in framing an inquiry.