general sentiment

USAGE SUMMARY

"general sentiment" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you are referring to a feeling or attitude that is shared by many people in a particular situation. For example: "The general sentiment in the town was that the new law was unfair."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

56 human-written examples

For each sentence generated by these sources, General Sentiment also scores its polarity, namely the extent to which the sentence is positive, or negative.

Huffington Post

Yet the general sentiment is common.

The Economist

But the general sentiment lies somewhere in the middle.

The New York Times - Sports

"I think that's the general sentiment in the Arab community".

The New York Times

Unemployment benefit has fallen behind and quite right too, is the general sentiment.

The Economist

Bettman said the general sentiment was that fighting had its place.

The New York Times - Sports

But the general sentiment is plain: a weakened America has work to do at home.

The Economist

User comments were analyzed for their usefulness to fellow commuters and their general sentiment.

The New York Times

Another graduate, Robert Charles Berring Jr., expresses the general sentiment: "I want to get it right".

The New York Times

The general sentiment appears to be: Good riddance to the government, and to politicians in general.

The New York Times

The general sentiment, the lawmaker said, was that Ryan can't "have it both ways.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "general sentiment" to effectively convey a widespread feeling or opinion within a specific context. For example, 'The "general sentiment" among employees was one of optimism after the new CEO's announcement.'

Common error

Avoid using "general sentiment" when referring to a feeling held by only a small or specific group. Ensure the sentiment is genuinely widespread to maintain accuracy and credibility.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "general sentiment" functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as the subject or object of a sentence. It describes a collective feeling or opinion. Ludwig AI confirms that this phrase is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

20%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Social Media

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "general sentiment" effectively communicates a widely held feeling or opinion. Ludwig AI affirms its grammatical correctness and usability. Analysis reveals it's most frequently used in news and media contexts, functioning as a noun phrase to describe collective attitudes. Alternatives such as "prevailing opinion" or "common feeling" can be used depending on the specific shade of meaning desired. When using "general sentiment", ensure the feeling is genuinely widespread to avoid overgeneralization.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

general consensus

Similar to "overall consensus" but can imply a less formal or complete agreement.

common feeling

Emphasizes the shared emotional experience among a group.

collective attitude

Stresses the shared perspective or disposition of a group.

prevailing opinion

Focuses more on the dominant viewpoint rather than the emotional aspect.

widespread view

Highlights the broad acceptance of a particular perspective.

public mood

Highlights the overall emotional state of the population.

dominant perspective

Emphasizes the most influential or prevalent viewpoint.

popular belief

Focuses on widespread acceptance of an idea or concept.

shared understanding

Highlights a common interpretation or knowledge among individuals.

overall consensus

Focuses on the agreement reached by a majority.

FAQs

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

You can use "general sentiment" to describe a feeling or opinion that is widely held. For example: "The "general sentiment" was that the project would be a success."

What is a good substitute for "general sentiment"?

Alternatives include "prevailing opinion", "common feeling", or "public mood" depending on the context.

Is it appropriate to use "general sentiment" in formal writing?

Yes, "general sentiment" is suitable for formal writing as it is a clear and professional way to describe a widely held feeling or opinion.

How does "general sentiment" differ from "personal opinion"?

"General sentiment" refers to a collective feeling, whereas "personal opinion" is an individual's viewpoint. One reflects a group attitude, the other a single person's belief.