have generally done

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "have generally done" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate a consistent or typical action or behavior over a period of time. Example: "In the past few years, we have generally done well in meeting our sales targets."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

33 human-written examples

When internal battles have gone public, they have generally done so in a controlled way.

The Guardian - Opinion

The second is that Portugal's other industries have generally done rather badly.

The Economist

European boards have generally done more than American boards to link pay to performance.

The Economist

Many smaller community newspapers remain stable and newspapers with a large national footprint have generally done better.

The New York Times

Those who have given it positive reviews have generally done so to express support for the demonstrators.

The New York Times

Private firms like Apollo and K.K.R. do not make their returns public, but they have generally done quite well, some big investors say.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

25 human-written examples

But it has generally done better than many biotech stocks.

The New York Times

Palm has generally done good work integrating its software with the phone, too.

The New York Times - Tech

Her journalism has generally done better justice to its subjects, at least treating them less coyly.

The New York Times - Books

(He says while the current government could still do better, it has generally done well on arts funding).

The Guardian

As chief equity judge, he granted the injunction as a remedy more often than earlier lords chancellor had generally done and settled the rules for its use.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "have generally done" to describe established patterns or trends in behavior or performance. It's suitable for summarizing past actions and making generalizations based on them.

Common error

Avoid using "have generally done" when referring to specific instances or actions. This phrase is meant for broader trends, not isolated cases.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "have generally done" functions as a present perfect construction combined with an adverb of frequency. It indicates that an action or behavior has occurred regularly or commonly up to the present time. As Ludwig AI confirms, this usage is grammatically sound and well-supported.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

89%

Science

7%

Formal & Business

2%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

1%

Reference

1%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "have generally done" is a grammatically correct and commonly used phrase to describe actions or behaviors that have occurred regularly or typically over time. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it's suitable for making generalizations and summarizing trends across various contexts. While alternatives like "have typically done" or "have usually done" can be used for variety, it's important to avoid overgeneralization and consider more precise language in formal or scientific settings. Predominantly found in News & Media sources, this phrase serves as a valuable tool for conveying established patterns and common practices.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

have typically done

Replaces "generally" with "typically", emphasizing that something is a usual occurrence.

have usually done

Substitutes "generally" with "usually", indicating a common practice or habit.

have commonly done

Uses "commonly" instead of "generally", highlighting that something is frequently done.

have often done

Replaces "generally" with "often", suggesting that something happens frequently but not necessarily always.

have consistently done

Emphasizes the regularity of the action, implying a predictable pattern.

have habitually done

Indicates that something has been done out of habit or routine.

have tended to do

Expresses a predisposition or inclination towards a particular action.

have, as a rule, done

Highlights that something is done according to a general principle or guideline.

have, more often than not, done

Suggests that something is done more frequently than it is not.

have, by and large, done

Emphasizes that something is generally true, with minor exceptions.

FAQs

How can I use "have generally done" in a sentence?

You can use "have generally done" to describe common behaviors or actions over time, such as, "Retailers "have generally done" little with loyalty card information."

What's a good alternative to "have generally done"?

Alternatives include "have typically done" or "have usually done", depending on the nuance you want to convey.

Is it always appropriate to use "have generally done"?

While grammatically correct, "have generally done" may not be suitable for formal or scientific contexts where precision is crucial. Consider alternatives that offer more specific details.

What's the difference between "have generally done" and "have always done"?

"Have generally done" implies a common but not universal action, while "have always done" suggests consistency without exception. The choice depends on the accuracy of the statement.