general states

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "general states" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to broad or overarching conditions, situations, or circumstances that apply to a variety of contexts. Example: "In general states of economic uncertainty, businesses often adopt more conservative financial strategies."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

31 human-written examples

Bulley wrote a generative sound score, composed into six general states, each of which were triggered by a set of conditions occurring at once.

Vice

In general, states with higher family incomes are likely to have better services, as well as higher taxes".

The New York Times

Short of federal privacy laws in general, states have been passing laws on a host of privacy matters, in many cases following California's lead.

The New York Times - Tech

For education spending in general, states are to get tens of billions from Washington with Congress asking almost nothing in the way of reforms.

The New York Times

These were pieces that spoke directly to general states of feeling about beauty and mortality — a very hard thing for a serious artist to do in 1962 and 1963.

The New Yorker

One 2008 document, signed by the US defense secretary and attorney general, states that the collection and subsequent analysis included "the information appearing on the 'to,'fromor'bcc 'bcc' lines of a standard email or other electronic communication" from Americans.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

29 human-written examples

In other words, the study's scenarios are generally conceived as general states-of-the-world; but while these are useful to logistics decision-makers, they have no relevance on the final configuration of global logistics networks, whether quantitative or qualitative features.

European Transport Research Review

It's a general state.

The Guardian

What probably matters most is our general state of health.

The Guardian

Proceeds of the New York State mansion tax feed a general state fund.

The New York Times

These agreements were exceptions to the general state of paralysis in the capitol today.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "general states" when discussing overarching conditions or situations applicable across multiple instances. For instance, in scientific research, it can refer to the typical conditions under which an experiment is conducted.

Common error

Avoid using "general states" when more specific terminology would provide clarity. For example, instead of saying "general states of economic hardship", specify the type of hardship, such as "widespread unemployment" or "decreased consumer spending".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "general states" functions as a noun phrase modified by an adjective. It commonly denotes overarching conditions or situations applicable across various instances. Ludwig AI confirms this usage with examples across diverse sources.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

53%

News & Media

39%

Encyclopedias

3%

Less common in

Wiki

2%

Formal & Business

1%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "general states" refers to overarching conditions or situations applicable across various instances and is categorized as an adjective-noun phrase. Ludwig AI indicates it's grammatically correct and adaptable across different registers, though leaning toward neutral formality. While its usage is not extremely common, it is consistent and appropriate in relevant fields like science and news media. When more specific terms are available, avoid overgeneralization and use those terms for clarity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

general circumstances

Simply replaces "states" with the semantically close word "circumstances".

broad conditions

Replaces "general" with "broad", indicating wide-ranging conditions.

typical conditions

Replaces "general" with "typical", focusing on the commonality of the states.

common situations

Substitutes both words to emphasize frequently occurring scenarios.

typical circumstances

Combines "typical" and "circumstances" to convey common situations.

overall circumstances

Uses broader terms to describe encompassing factors or events.

overarching conditions

Emphasizes that the conditions have a controlling or unifying influence.

prevailing situations

Suggests conditions that are currently dominant or widespread.

sweeping conditions

Indicates conditions that have a wide-ranging effect.

average conditions

Focuses on the statistical norm or mean condition.

FAQs

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

You can use "general states" to refer to broad or overarching conditions. For example: "The study examined the effects of the treatment on the general states of well-being of the participants."

What's a good alternative to "general states"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives such as "broad conditions", "common situations", or "typical circumstances".

Is "general states" formal or informal?

"General states" can be used in both formal and informal contexts, depending on the subject matter. It is suitable for scientific discussions, news reports, and general conversations.

When is it appropriate to use "general states" instead of "specific states"?

Use "general states" when you are referring to overall or overarching conditions that apply broadly. Use "specific states" when you need to discuss particular or detailed conditions.