get a broad overview

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "get a broad overview" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when you want to express the idea of gaining a general understanding or summary of a topic or situation. Example: "Before diving into the details, it's important to get a broad overview of the project's objectives and goals."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

Academia

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

19 human-written examples

You can read over the current information to get a broad overview of what this step is about.

Harvard University

Scan the table of contents and the index to get a broad overview of the material it covers.

Cornell University

You will get a broad overview of the research opportunities available to undergraduates on campus, with suggestions on how to find them.

University of California, Berkeley

You will get a broad overview of the research opportunities available to undergraduates on campus, and suggestions on how to find them.

University of California, Berkeley

Between those two hubs, and the links I find on the latter, I can usually get a broad overview of what's developing, what's launching and – generally speaking – what's important.

TechCrunch

Thus, to get a broad overview of different senses, their variability and potential interrelationship of personality, gustation was also explored.

Plosone

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

41 human-written examples

I get a broader overview and perspective in a lot of different fields now, and I really enjoy [the fact] that I still get to be involved with the research".

Science Magazine

Therefore, to get a broader overview of the foragers' thermoregulation in their temperate living space, we investigated them on flowers at different locations and environmental conditions.

Ecological Entomology

To get a broader overview of the GO terms assigned to genes, the terms were traced back to the ancestral term at different levels in each of the gene ontology classes biological process, molecular function and cellular component.

BMC Biology

We did not perform such a comparison using the third EST library, because the latter was derived from a mix of time points using PCR amplification of cDNA inserts in order to get a broader overview of the genes involved in the many stages of fracture healing in sheep.

BMC Genomics

We imagine that the research process begins with students getting a broad overview of the candidates and their positions.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When starting a new project or research, use "get a broad overview" to emphasize the importance of understanding the main objectives before diving into specific details. This helps maintain focus and context.

Common error

Avoid using "get a broad overview" when the situation requires a detailed and thorough analysis. The phrase implies a general understanding, not an exhaustive investigation.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "get a broad overview" functions as a verb phrase, indicating the action of acquiring a general understanding of a subject. This aligns with Ludwig AI's assessment, as the phrase is used to describe the process of gaining a high-level perspective. Examples from Ludwig show it used across academic, scientific, and news contexts.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

40%

Academia

30%

News & Media

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "get a broad overview" is a grammatically correct and commonly used expression for acquiring a general understanding of a topic. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it's suitable for various contexts, including science, academia, and news. To enhance your writing, remember to use this phrase when a general understanding is needed before delving into specifics. Be mindful not to substitute it for situations requiring an in-depth analysis. Consider alternatives like "gain a comprehensive understanding" or "obtain a general perspective" to add variety to your language.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

gain a comprehensive understanding

Focuses on achieving a complete understanding rather than just an overview.

obtain a general perspective

Emphasizes the act of acquiring a viewpoint that is broad rather than detailed.

acquire a bird's-eye view

Uses a metaphor to describe seeing something from a high-level, all-encompassing perspective.

develop a holistic picture

Highlights the creation of a complete and integrated view.

form a global impression

Suggests creating a general sense or feeling based on initial information.

achieve a synoptic vision

Implies gaining a comprehensive and coherent understanding of a complex system or subject.

get the gist

Focuses on understanding the main point without needing specific details.

grasp the essentials

Implies understanding the most important aspects of something.

familiarize oneself with the basics

Suggests becoming acquainted with the fundamental aspects of a subject.

develop a working knowledge

Emphasizes gaining enough knowledge to operate effectively, rather than an in-depth understanding.

FAQs

How can I use "get a broad overview" in a sentence?

You can use "get a broad overview" to describe the action of understanding the main points of a topic. For example, "Before starting the project, it's important to "get a broad overview" of the client's expectations".

What can I say instead of "get a broad overview"?

You can use alternatives like "gain a comprehensive understanding", "obtain a general perspective", or "acquire a bird's-eye view" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "get a broad overview" or "get a broader overview"?

"Get a broad overview" is used when you want a general understanding. "Get a broader overview" implies expanding an existing understanding.

What's the difference between "get a broad overview" and "get an in-depth analysis"?

"Get a broad overview" means understanding the main points quickly. "Get an in-depth analysis" involves a detailed examination of all aspects of a topic.