general impression

USAGE SUMMARY

"general impression" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it to describe the overall feeling that an audience has towards a person, place, thing, or experience. For example, "My general impression of the trip was positive."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

If that is the way they are "generally regarded" then the general impression is wrong.

The New Yorker

That is my general impression".

The Guardian

But the general impression was wrong.

The New York Times

And we get this general impression of it.

Yale University

The general impression of Americans is that we're all believers.

The Guardian - Books

The general impression is of a suspended moment in time.

The New York Times - Arts

The general impression was of a gorgeous miscellany.

The New Yorker

This ordinal scale represents a general impression of paralysis and impaired gait.

Behavioural Brain Research

Contrary to general impression, Kepler did not fit ellipses to Tycho Brahe's observations of Mars.

Harvard University

The general impression I get is that I'm not covering a midterm election campaign.

The New York Times

But he is under the general impression that things are going well for McAuliffe.

The Washington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "general impression" when you want to convey a broad, non-specific feeling or understanding about something. It's suitable for summarizing an experience, situation, or person without getting into specific details.

Common error

Avoid using "general impression" when specific, detailed information is required. The phrase implies a lack of precise knowledge, so opt for more descriptive language when accuracy is paramount.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "general impression" primarily functions as a noun phrase, acting as the subject or object of a sentence. As seen in Ludwig's examples, it describes a broad feeling or understanding rather than a specific detail. It often indicates a summary of experiences or observations.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

44%

Science

37%

Academia

10%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Formal & Business

3%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "general impression" is a widely used and grammatically sound expression for conveying a broad, non-specific feeling or understanding. According to Ludwig, it's common in News & Media, Science, and Academia. While it is most useful for summarizing, it should not be used when specific details are necessary. Related phrases include "overall feeling" and "common perception". It's considered to have a neutral register, making it suitable for various contexts. In summary, use "general impression" when a broad assessment is needed, and make sure that this is aligned with the purpose of the text.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

overall feeling

Focuses on the emotional aspect of the impression.

overall sense

Emphasizes a more intuitive or instinctive understanding.

general feeling

Highlights a prevailing sentiment or emotion.

overall view

Stresses a comprehensive perspective.

prevailing idea

Indicates a commonly held belief or understanding.

common perception

Highlights a widely shared viewpoint.

popular belief

Focuses on a belief held by many people.

public opinion

Indicates the aggregate of views or attitudes held by a population.

basic understanding

Highlights a fundamental comprehension.

chief idea

Emphasizes the most important thought or concept.

FAQs

How can I use "general impression" in a sentence?

You can use "general impression" to describe an overall feeling or understanding. For example, "My "general impression" of the movie was positive", or "The "general impression" is that the project is on track".

What are some alternatives to "general impression"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives like "overall feeling", "overall sense", or "common perception".

Is it better to say "general impression" or "specific impression"?

It depends on the level of detail you want to convey. "General impression" implies a broad, non-specific feeling, while "specific impression" suggests a detailed and precise understanding.

What's the difference between "general impression" and "first impression"?

"First impression" refers to the initial feeling or opinion formed upon encountering something or someone for the first time, whereas ""general impression"" is a broader, overall feeling that can develop over time or after multiple encounters.