general average

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "general average" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used in maritime law to refer to a principle where all parties share the losses resulting from a maritime incident proportionally. Example: "In the event of a shipwreck, the concept of general average ensures that the costs of saving the ship and cargo are shared among all stakeholders."

✓ Grammatically correct

Maritime Law

Insurance

Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

56 human-written examples

Salvage and general average are doctrines peculiar to maritime law.

Britannica

Fall From Highest in General Average, 18 3/8 Per Cent. in Breadstuffs.

The New York Times

In general, average sedimentary thickness of the basin is about 4.5 km.

Journal of Petroleum Science and Engineering

"The general average of Warrants issued during the present century, does not much exceed 8 a-year," the investigation revealed.

The New Yorker

Estimated numbers for sph.berkeley.edu - Niche: General - Average CPM: $2.80 CPM or eCPM: Effective Cost per 1000 impressions.

University of California, Berkeley

Repeated attempts to draft international conventions in the field of general average, however, have met with failure.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Similarly, losses from salvage efforts to free a stranded vessel may qualify under a general average claim to which all interests must contribute.

Britannica

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

4 human-written examples

The latter properties are proved using general averaging and Lyapunov stability.

Acta Astronautica

The rag trade in general averages 33%.

Forbes

Students performed well in general averaging 89.3% correct (solid red line) with a standard deviation of 10.5.

International Journal of STEM Education

The Payoff: In general, the average American woman makes about 80 cents for every dollar the average man makes with the wage gap widening for women of color.

Forbes

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider replacing "general average" with simpler terms like "shared loss" or "collective sacrifice" when writing for a general audience to enhance clarity.

Common error

Avoid applying the concept of "general average" outside its specific context of maritime law and insurance. It is not a general term for averages or common occurrences.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "general average" functions as a noun phrase referring to a specific principle in maritime law. Ludwig shows its use in contexts related to shared losses and sacrifices in sea ventures.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Encyclopedias

23%

Science

21%

News & Media

21%

Less common in

Wiki

8%

Formal & Business

5%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "general average" is a noun phrase that correctly refers to a principle in maritime law where losses are shared proportionally among stakeholders. Ludwig confirms its accurate usage in legal, insurance, and business contexts. Although grammatically sound, simpler alternatives like "shared loss" may enhance clarity for general audiences. As Ludwig AI indicates, this phrase is most frequently found in encyclopedias, scientific journals, and news media, reflecting its formal and technical nature. Misusing the term outside of maritime contexts should be avoided. Alternatives such as "shared loss", "collective sacrifice", or "proportional contribution" may be more easily understood by those unfamiliar with maritime law.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

shared loss

Emphasizes the sharing aspect of the loss among multiple parties.

collective sacrifice

Highlights the voluntary sacrifice made for the common good.

proportional contribution

Focuses on the fairness of each party's contribution to cover losses.

loss distribution

Describes how the loss is spread across involved entities.

common burden

Stresses that the loss is a shared responsibility.

joint risk

Highlights the shared nature of the risk involved.

mutual responsibility

Underlines the shared accountability for the loss.

distributed cost

Focuses on the cost aspect that is spread amongst participants.

pooled liability

Highlights the shared liability for the losses.

averaged cost

Focuses on calculating an average cost across participants.

FAQs

What is the meaning of "general average" in maritime law?

"General average" refers to a principle where all parties in a sea venture proportionally share losses resulting from a voluntary sacrifice made to save the voyage from peril.

How does "general average" differ from standard insurance?

"General average" is a shared responsibility among all stakeholders in a voyage, while insurance typically covers specific losses as defined in the policy.

When is it appropriate to use the term "general average"?

Use "general average" when discussing maritime incidents where a sacrifice was made to preserve the voyage and its cargo, requiring all stakeholders to contribute to the loss. In other contexts use "shared loss".

What are some simpler alternatives to "general average" for a general audience?

Alternatives like "shared loss", "collective sacrifice", or "proportional contribution" may be more easily understood by those unfamiliar with maritime law.