as a general sign

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "as a general sign" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when indicating a broad or common indication of something, often in a context where you are summarizing or generalizing a point. Example: "As a general sign of economic recovery, we have seen an increase in consumer spending over the past few months."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

However, the initial plan led other smaller groups to call for the day of protest as a general sign of discontent with the direction the country is headed.

The New York Times

Surveys and interviews indicated that white project leaders welcomed demographic diversity as a general sign of progress but that they also thought the new employees were somehow changing the company, pulling it away from its original culture and its mission.

Harvard Business Review

Further, respiration only increased in Cr VI treated cells as a general sign of stress (Larcher, 2001; Masarovicova et al., 2004), whereas respiration in Cr III treated cells remained at control levels.

Aquatic Toxicology

Neither of the pigments occurred exclusively in completely emaciated animals, indicating that the pigments perhaps should be considered more as a general sign of catabolism rather than a sign of severe undernourishment.

Acta Veterinaria Scandinavica

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

Stripping them naked was permitted so long as a general signed off on the request.

The New York Times

In New York City he became involved with O'Horgan's theater company as a "general aide", signing on as associate producer for Lenny and for Eve Merriam's Inner City.

Wikipedia

Systolic blood pressure, health officials said, is a reliable general sign of hypertension and as people get to middle age and beyond, it is the best reliable indicator.

The New York Times - Health

Within plant-associated fungi we hypothesize that GH32 gene presence may be negatively correlated with the degree of mutualism and its presence or absence may therefore serve as a general marker for the sign of interaction (i.e., mutualistic vs. antagonistic) between a plant and a fungus.

BMC Evolutionary Biology

A U.S. general signed as the representative of the United Nations.

Los Angeles Times

They also used the cross-over sign as a general test of retroversion but they determined the posterior wall sign to indicate "relatively less posterior coverage".

Clinical Orthopaedics and Related Research

The nominee to replace him, Elena Kagan, who as solicitor general signed the government's briefs in the case, would most likely recuse herself from hearing an appeal of the decision, and a four-four split would allow it to stand.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "as a general sign", ensure that the context clearly indicates what the sign is generally representative of. This avoids ambiguity and strengthens the statement.

Common error

Avoid using "as a general sign" when referring to a very specific or uncommon occurrence. This phrase implies a broad representation, so ensure it aligns with a widely recognized or common indicator.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "as a general sign" functions as an introductory phrase, typically used to preface an observation that serves as a common or widespread indicator of a broader phenomenon. As Ludwig AI confirms, it denotes a broad indication of something, summarizing a point.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

50%

Encyclopedias

0%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "as a general sign" is a grammatically correct phrase used to introduce a common or widespread indicator of a broader phenomenon. As noted by Ludwig AI, it's used to indicate a broad understanding or interpretation. While not overly frequent, its usage is well-supported by reputable sources like The New York Times and scientific publications. When employing this phrase, it's crucial to ensure that the sign being referenced is, in fact, generally recognized as representative of the intended broader context. Common alternatives include "as a typical indicator" or "as a common symptom". Although infrequent, its correct use strengthens analytical statements and broad observations. Ludwig confirms its validity and applicability in diverse contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

as a typical indicator

Substitutes "sign" with "indicator" and "general" with "typical", emphasizing commonness.

as a common symptom

Replaces "sign" with "symptom", implying an indication of an underlying issue.

as a broad indication

Swaps "sign" for "indication", keeping the generality aspect.

as a frequent marker

Uses "marker" instead of "sign", denoting something that points to a specific condition regularly.

as a usual signal

Replaces "sign" with "signal", suggesting a common alert or cue.

as a standard manifestation

Changes "sign" to "manifestation", indicating a common display or appearance of something.

as a widespread attribute

Uses "attribute" instead of "sign", implying a common characteristic.

as a prevalent feature

Substitutes "sign" with "feature", denoting a common aspect or characteristic.

as an overall indicator

Changes "general" to "overall", emphasizing the comprehensiveness of the indication.

as a prevailing symbol

Replaces "sign" with "symbol", indicating a widely recognized representation.

FAQs

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

Use "as a general sign" to introduce a common indication or symptom of a broader condition or situation. For instance, "Increased unemployment can be seen "as a general sign" of economic downturn".

What are some alternatives to "as a general sign"?

Alternatives include "as a typical indicator", "as a common symptom", or "as a broad indication", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it appropriate to use "as a general sign" in formal writing?

Yes, "as a general sign" is appropriate for formal writing, especially when discussing trends or indicators in a comprehensive way. However, ensure the context requires a generalization rather than a specific instance.

How does "as a general sign" differ from "as a specific sign"?

"As a general sign" points to a broad, common indication, while "as a specific sign" would refer to a particular, less common indicator. The choice depends on whether you're discussing common trends or particular instances.