as general as possible

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "as general as possible" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to express the idea of providing information or a description that is broad and not specific. Example: "In order to accommodate everyone’s needs, please keep your feedback as general as possible."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

45 human-written examples

Another MP who helped draft the charges admits that "we tried to make it as general as possible to make it as difficult as possible for the guy to escape...Whatever accountability speech he makes, he won't pass".Mr Wahid has no remaining authority political, executive or moral with which to fight back.

The Economist

As we said in Section 2, we are looking for an algorithm as general as possible.

EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking

For all of these reasons we try to maintain our set up as general as possible.

Bulletin of Mathematical Sciences

As general as possible, the incidence functions f and g must satisfy technical conditions.

Advances in Difference Equations

To make the treatment as general as possible, we represent those probabilistic assessments as a collection of conditional lower previsions.

Artificial Intelligence

The program is kept as general as possible, in order to allow testing different parts of multiple-scattering calculations.

Computer Physics Communications

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

15 human-written examples

Nuclear muon capture on the proton and 3 He is considered both within and beyond the standard model in terms as general as is possible.

Nuclear Physics A

It follows that the validities of classical logic are, by design, as general as possible they are true no matter what we might choose as our domain, no matter what our things are.

SEP

But he emphasizes that while he will try to find the most general principles, rendering them as universal as possible, all of his explanations must be based completely on experience.

SEP

Nabil Shaath, the Palestinian Authority's commissioner for international relations, who was in Cairo during the early stages of the talks and met with key players, said the published agreement was intentionally kept "as vague and as general and as concise as possible to avoid problems and misunderstandings".

The New York Times

To avoid detailed system configurations and to make the performance comparison as general and as consistent as possible, we only use the spectral efficiency as the performance of interest.

EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When aiming for broad applicability, use "as general as possible" to ensure your message or design isn't overly specific or exclusive.

Common error

Be mindful that striving to be "as general as possible" doesn't result in ambiguity or a lack of meaningful detail. Ensure the core message remains clear and actionable.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "as general as possible" functions as an adverbial modifier, indicating the degree or extent to which something should be general. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

70%

News & Media

15%

Wiki

9%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Encyclopedias

2%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "as general as possible" serves as an adverbial modifier, indicating a desire for broad applicability while preventing over-specification. Ludwig AI validates its proper usage in writing. It is most frequently found in scientific contexts, but also appears in news media and wiki sources. When using this phrase, it's crucial to ensure that the pursuit of generality doesn't compromise clarity or result in unintended vagueness. Related phrases like "as broad as feasible" or "as inclusive as can be", offer alternative ways to express the need for a broad scope while adding nuances relating to practicality or inclusiveness.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

as broad as feasible

Replaces "possible" with "feasible", focusing on practicality rather than mere possibility.

as wide-ranging as achievable

Substitutes "general" with "wide-ranging" and "possible" with "achievable", emphasizing scope and attainability.

as comprehensive as practicable

Uses "comprehensive" instead of "general" and "practicable" instead of "possible", stressing completeness and practicality.

as inclusive as can be

Replaces "general" with "inclusive" and restructures the phrase for a more informal tone, highlighting the aspect of encompassing many elements.

to the greatest extent possible

Focuses on the degree of generality, rephrasing the original expression for emphasis.

as far-reaching as is viable

Emphasizes the extent of reach or influence, with "viable" implying feasibility within constraints.

as unrestrictive as is allowed

Focuses on the lack of limitations or constraints, emphasizing permissibility.

in the most universal terms

Highlights the use of terminology applicable across different contexts, stressing commonality.

as nonspecific as necessary

Emphasizes the lack of specificity only to the degree that it's needed, suggesting a deliberate choice.

avoiding specifics wherever feasible

Shifts focus to the act of avoiding specific details, adding an element of action or strategy.

FAQs

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

You can use "as general as possible" to indicate a preference for broad, non-specific statements. For example, "Please keep your feedback "as general as possible" to accommodate diverse perspectives."

What's a good alternative to "as general as possible"?

Alternatives include "as broad as feasible", "as inclusive as can be", or "to the greatest extent possible", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

In what contexts is it appropriate to aim for something "as general as possible"?

It's appropriate when creating guidelines, policies, or models meant to apply to a wide range of situations. This helps ensure flexibility and avoids unintended exclusions.

How does aiming for "as general as possible" differ from being vague?

While both involve a lack of specificity, "as general as possible" usually implies a deliberate choice to encompass a wide scope, whereas vagueness may be unintentional and result in a lack of clarity. The goal is to be broad without losing meaning.