generally equal

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "generally equal" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing concepts, values, or quantities that are similar or comparable in a broad sense. Example: "In many cases, the two methods yield results that are generally equal, making either choice viable."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

54 human-written examples

In this case the use tax is generally equal to the retail sales tax.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Developers who relinquish the development rights to their property by donating it to a government or nonprofit group may qualify for a federal tax deduction that is generally equal to the value of the development that is given up, said Stephen J. Small, a lawyer who specializes in protected-land projects.

The New York Times - Travel

For example, generally equal importance is given to the input rankings while performing the aggregation.

Expert Systems with Applications

Generally, equal or higher sample sizes are needed for plot sampling than for distance sampling to reach equal accuracy levels.

Ecological Modelling

When it comes down to it, given two generally equal choices in a technology war, consumers have chosen the cheaper alternative.

TechCrunch

Each node v i has an interference range, which is generally equal to or greater than r i.

EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

6 human-written examples

Typically these insurers make little or no profit on the coverage they provide because the cost of paying claims and running the company generally equals or exceeds the amount of money collected from customers.

The New York Times

In contrast, when cardholders purchase gift cards from other retailers through the Membership Rewards site, one point generally equals at least one penny on the gift card, if not more.

The New York Times

Sev(St)_{v} = hbox{max} left( {frac{{T_{{{text{low}}v}} }}{{T_{vhbox{max} } }}} right) (4 where Tlowv is the time duration when the bus voltage decreases to 0.75 p.u., Tvmax is the maximum allowable time (generally equals to 1 s).

Journal of Modern Power Systems and Clean Energy

This demonstrates that the current winner generally equaled the previous winner regardless of which percept it was, ruling out systematic bias as an explanation.

Plosone

The requirement of TolC for growth at low pH is surprising because TolC resides in the outer membrane, mediating exchange of the external medium with the periplasm; and the periplasmic pH generally equals the external pH [23].

Plosone

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When precision is paramount, consider using more specific terms like "equivalent", "identical", or providing quantitative measures to illustrate the degree of similarity.

Common error

Avoid using "generally equal" when referring to situations where exact equality is required or implied; this can create ambiguity and potentially mislead the reader.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "generally equal" functions as an adjective phrase that modifies a noun, indicating that the noun it describes is similar or comparable to something else. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is grammatically correct and usable.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

69%

News & Media

13%

Encyclopedias

2%

Less common in

Wiki

2%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "generally equal" is a versatile adjective phrase used to express that two or more things are similar or comparable, although not necessarily identical. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is grammatically correct and sees frequent use across diverse fields, including science, news, and encyclopedias. When writing, use "generally equal" to denote approximate equivalence, but avoid it in situations requiring precise measurements. Consider using alternatives like "roughly equivalent" or "substantially similar" to further fine-tune your message.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

roughly equivalent

Indicates an approximate equivalence, implying a small degree of difference is acceptable.

largely the same

Emphasizes the high degree of similarity while acknowledging minor differences.

mostly identical

Suggests an extremely high level of similarity, close to being indistinguishable.

comparable in most respects

Highlights that equivalence exists in the majority of characteristics considered.

substantially similar

Indicates a significant degree of likeness, with any differences being relatively unimportant.

on par with

Suggests that something is equivalent or of a similar standard.

more or less equal

Expresses that items are nearly but not exactly equal.

almost equivalent

Conveys the sense of near equivalence, pointing out that the difference is minimal.

in the same ballpark

Indicates that values are close to each other, without requiring precision.

not far off from

Shows approximate matching and near proximity of concepts or values, it is less formal.

FAQs

How can I use "generally equal" in a sentence?

The phrase "generally equal" is used to describe situations where two or more things are similar but not necessarily identical. For example, "The two groups achieved results that were "generally equal", with only minor variations."

What are some alternatives to saying "generally equal"?

You can use alternatives such as "roughly equivalent", "substantially similar", or "comparable" depending on the specific context and degree of similarity you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "generally equals"?

While grammatically understandable, "generally equals" is less common and idiomatic than ""generally equal"". The latter is more widely accepted and clearly conveys the intended meaning of approximate equivalence.

What is the difference between "generally equal" and "exactly equal"?

"Generally equal" implies a degree of similarity with minor differences, while "exactly equal" denotes that two things are identical in every aspect without any variation.