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Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak quote

Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak

CEO of Professional Science Editing for Scientists @ prosciediting.com

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generic

Grammar usage guide and real-world examples

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "generic" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe something that is very common or not specific. For example: He gave a generic answer to the question.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Michael McCaughan of Windhover, an industry publisher, reckons that such authorised generics mean that a generic firm loses "potentially half of the windfall that comes from an exclusive generic launch, an amount that could easily reach a billion dollars for a product like generic Zocor .The branded-drugs giants argue that the proposed new legislation is misguided.

News & Media

The Economist

Conversely, we project limited generic erosion for Advair from generics.

In the early 2000s, pharmaceutical companies were high on activists' hit lists, prompted by Big Pharma's ill-advised attempt to sue the South African government for patent infringement on HIV drugs; an attempt to deal with the country's epidemic by allowing cheaper, generic copies to be sold.

News & Media

The Guardian

"Materials," it continues, "can vary from a more generic render (which can be plain or coloured to give variety), or locally found materials or bricks can be used".

Many city tours are either generic, big-group walks – in which you are fed dry facts with no particular theme – or super-cheesy, "we're-not-like-the-other-tours" experiences, where you are guided by someone wearing a trilby and strumming a ukelele while telling tales of local cult legends.

In addition to harming American workers, the TPP would increase the price of life-saving prescription drugs in poor countries by making it harder for them to obtain affordable generic drugs.

The big things just weren't big enough to lure hungry travellers from the generic service stations and drive-through takeaway joints that dot the freeways today.

After all, we know that as soon as conception happens, a woman stops being her own person but is instead generic "mum", and should be talked to accordingly.

The only dry spices he includes are cardamom pods and white pepper, yet the results are richly complex and distinctively different, marking this out as a korma, rather than a generic mild curry.

By focusing on the harrier we forgot about the generic landscape – what happens here and what's made the harrier come here in the first place.

News & Media

The Guardian

Bored by one-size-fits-all marketing campaigns which frequently fail for all but the most generic of Mother's Day X Factor releases.

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Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing products, be precise: Use "unbranded" if you specifically mean lacking a brand name, rather than the more ambiguous "generic".

Common error

Avoid using "generic" when a more precise term like "general", "unbranded", or "standard" would better convey your intended meaning.

Antonio Rotolo, PhD - Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

Antonio Rotolo, PhD

Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

Source & Trust

94%

Authority and reliability

4.5/5

Expert rating

Real-world application tested

Linguistic Context

The word "generic" primarily functions as an adjective, modifying nouns to indicate a lack of specificity, distinctiveness, or branding. As Ludwig AI shows, it's often used in contexts related to products, drugs, or characteristics.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

67%

Formal & Business

25%

Science

8%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The word "generic" functions primarily as an adjective, indicating a lack of specificity, brand identity, or unique characteristics. It appears most frequently in news and media sources, with a neutral to formal register, according to Ludwig AI. While grammatically correct and very common, it's important to consider more precise alternatives like "general", "unbranded", or "standard" to enhance clarity. Ludwig's examples reveal its common usage in describing products, pharmaceuticals, and concepts lacking distinctive features, making it a versatile but potentially ambiguous term.

FAQs

How is "generic" used in the pharmaceutical context?

In the pharmaceutical industry, "generic" refers to a medication that is equivalent to a brand-name drug in dosage, strength, route of administration, quality, performance and intended use, but is sold under a different name once the brand-name drug's patent expires.

What's the difference between "generic" and "general"?

"Generic" often implies a lack of branding or specificity in a commercial sense, while "general" refers to a broad, non-specific category or concept. For example, a "generic" brand of cereal versus a "general overview" of a topic.

How to avoid using "generic" in my writing?

Consider more specific terms depending on the context. Use "unbranded" for products without a brand, "general" for broad concepts, or "standard" for items conforming to a norm. This will make your writing more precise and engaging.

What are some synonyms for "generic" in describing a product?

Depending on the nuance you want to convey, alternatives include "unbranded", "store brand", "off-brand", or "no-name". These terms all emphasize the absence of a well-known brand identity.

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Source & Trust

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Authority and reliability

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Real-world application tested

Most frequent sentences: