generally speaking.

USAGE SUMMARY

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Generally speaking".

The New Yorker

"Generally speaking, it's clockwise.

The New Yorker

Generally speaking, that remains true.

The New Yorker

Generally speaking, they are not.

The New Yorker

Generally speaking, yes.

Columbia University

Generally speaking, not much.

The New York Times

"Generally speaking, great".

The New York Times - Sports

Generally speaking, they don't.

Harvard Business Review

His touch, generally speaking, is fairly gentle.

Independent

"Generally speaking, the trends are similar".

The New York Times

Generally speaking, each community was fairly autonomous.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "generally speaking" to introduce a generalization or common observation, providing context for a more specific statement that follows.

Common error

Avoid starting too many sentences or paragraphs with "generally speaking". Vary your sentence structure to maintain reader engagement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "generally speaking" functions as a sentence adverbial, modifying the entire clause or sentence. It introduces a qualification, indicating that the statement is a generalization rather than an absolute truth, as seen in Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

48%

Science

20%

Academia

8%

Less common in

Wiki

7%

Encyclopedias

2%

Formal & Business

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "generally speaking" is a versatile adverbial phrase used to introduce generalizations. Ludwig examples indicate its widespread usage across news, science, and academic domains. While grammatically sound and frequently employed, it's essential to use this phrase judiciously to avoid overuse and ensure clarity. Consider alternatives like "in general" or "broadly speaking" for variety. According to Ludwig, the phrase is accepted and commonly used.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

in general

This alternative is more concise, omitting the verb "speak".

broadly speaking

This alternative uses "broadly" instead of "generally", emphasizing a wide scope.

as a general rule

This alternative includes "rule", emphasizing that the statement can be considered a general pattern.

on the whole

This alternative suggests a consideration of the entire situation.

by and large

This alternative implies that there may be exceptions, but the statement is mostly true.

as a rule

This alternative suggests a common or typical occurrence.

typically

This alternative focuses on what is normal or usual.

for the most part

This alternative acknowledges that there might be exceptions but emphasizes the majority.

in most cases

This alternative highlights the frequency of the statement's occurrence.

on average

This alternative suggests a statistical generalization.

FAQs

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

You can use "generally speaking" to introduce a broad statement that might have exceptions. For example, "Generally speaking, the weather is pleasant".

What's a more concise alternative to "generally speaking"?

A shorter alternative is "in general", which conveys a similar meaning with fewer words.

Is there a subtle difference between "generally speaking" and "broadly speaking"?

While similar, "broadly speaking" suggests a wider, less detailed perspective compared to "generally speaking".

When is it inappropriate to use "generally speaking"?

Avoid using "generally speaking" when discussing precise data or situations that require specific details, as it implies a degree of generalization that may not be suitable.