as is generally understood

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "as is generally understood" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to indicate that a statement or concept is widely accepted or recognized by most people. Example: "The term 'sustainability' refers to practices that meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs, as is generally understood."

✓ Grammatically correct

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

Although the sewage treatment facilities promoted in the article (Tenenbaum 2004) may resemble wetlands, they are far from the real thing, or at least as far as the term is generally understood.

Environmental Health Perspectives

But I do think it's not quite the same thing as what is generally understood by the word poverty.

The Guardian

That ability to optimize and (not incidentally) monetize user experiences by reacting to microlevel data is the essence of Web-business magic, as it is generally understood.

The New York Times - Magazine

Mr. Roach challenged both his audiences and himself by working not just with standard jazz instrumentation but in contexts well beyond the confines of jazz as it is generally understood.

The New York Times - Arts

Cutting net immigration to this extent would mean going far beyond immigration policy as it is generally understood: it would mean leaving the European Union, and telling British citizens they can no longer marry who they like, as well as closing our universities to foreign students.

The Guardian - Opinion

And these are places where conspicuous consumption, as it is generally understood, is out.

Forbes

This fits well to the detected hormetic effect of midazolam, as hormesis is generally understood not to be based on a single mechanistic pathway, but rather reflects a complex pattern of cellular reactions to an unspecific sublethal stimulus.

BMC Anesthesiology

The charge was later described as "an ideal cavalry operation, but not a cavalry charge as the term is generally understood".

Wikipedia

But Mr. Khurana doesn't think that it is a real market, as the word is generally understood.

The New York Times

Had the outburst been simply an unlovely piece of hypocrisy, based on a profound contempt for his fellow-men, it would have sounded much the same; and it would have sounded equally irreconcilable with liberalism as that word is generally understood.

The New Yorker

Over the years he challenged both his audiences and himself by working not just with standard jazz instrumentation, and not just in traditional jazz venues, but in a wide variety of contexts, some of them well beyond the confines of jazz as that word is generally understood.

The New York Times - Arts

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "as is generally understood" to introduce a concept or definition that is widely accepted within a specific field or context, ensuring clarity and avoiding unnecessary explanation.

Common error

Avoid using "as is generally understood" too frequently, as it can make your writing sound repetitive. Vary your phrasing with alternatives like "as commonly known" or "widely accepted" to maintain reader engagement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "as is generally understood" functions as a discourse marker or qualifier. It signals that the speaker or writer is presenting information that is assumed to be common knowledge or a widely accepted interpretation. Ludwig confirms the usability of this phrase.

Expression frequency: Missing

Frequent in

Science

0%

News & Media

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Science

0%

News & Media

0%

Formal & Business

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Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "as is generally understood" is a grammatically sound phrase used to denote concepts widely accepted or interpreted similarly by many. Though Ludwig confirms its usability, this analysis reveals its relative infrequency in a range of sources. While appropriate across various contexts, consider substituting with synonyms to prevent overuse, and ensure it genuinely reflects common knowledge. It helps to establish common ground and streamline communication, but should be employed judiciously to maintain clarity and avoid redundancy.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

as commonly known

Replaces 'generally understood' with 'commonly known', emphasizing widespread knowledge.

as is widely accepted

Substitutes 'generally understood' with 'widely accepted', highlighting broad agreement.

as is typically understood

Changes 'generally' to 'typically', focusing on a standard interpretation.

as is conventionally understood

Replaces 'generally' with 'conventionally', suggesting an established norm.

in common parlance

Uses a more formal tone to indicate general understanding through common language.

by common consensus

Highlights agreement among people, replacing the idea of general understanding.

in most people's understanding

Specifies that the understanding is held by 'most people'.

it is well known that

Shifts the focus to the state of being known rather than the act of understanding.

it is a common belief that

Emphasizes the belief aspect rather than understanding.

the prevailing view is that

Introduces the concept as a 'prevailing view', indicating a dominant perspective.

FAQs

How can I use "as is generally understood" in a sentence?

Use "as is generally understood" to introduce a concept or definition that is widely accepted. For example, "The term 'sustainability' refers to practices that meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs, as is generally understood."

What can I say instead of "as is generally understood"?

You can use alternatives like "as commonly known", "as widely accepted", or "it is well known that" depending on the context.

Is it redundant to say "as is generally understood by everyone"?

Yes, adding "by everyone" to "as is generally understood" is redundant. The phrase already implies a general or common understanding, so specifying "by everyone" is unnecessary.

What's the difference between "as is generally understood" and "as is specifically defined"?

"As is generally understood" implies a common, perhaps informal, understanding. In contrast, "as is specifically defined" refers to a precise, formal definition, often within a particular field or document.