in a general term

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "in a general term" is not correct; the correct expression is "in general terms." You can use it when discussing concepts or ideas in a broad or non-specific way.
Example: "In general terms, the project aims to improve community engagement and participation."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

Don't even think of putting in a general term like jeans or soccer shoes.

The New York Times

Reservoir rock consists of grains, pores which are filled with pore fluids and possibly joints and faults or in a general term discontinuity which may or may not be filled with cement.

Journal of Petroleum Exploration and Production Technology

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

Theft, in law, a general term covering a variety of specific types of stealing, including the crimes of larceny, robbery, and burglary.

Encyclopedia Britannica

He added, "I think that putting it in a more general term like LGBT is extraordinarily appropriate, even though I'm not a lesbian or transgender".

Huffington Post

To simplify the discussion, we define a haplotype in general terms as a contiguous subset of the information contained in a molecule of DNA (Box 1).

Genome Medicine

What may benefit a population in general terms may be disadvantageous to an individual at a certain point in time.

Critical Care

Specify what you want to achieve with your athlete, in a general and long term time frame.

WikiHow

But from material published earlier and interviews in which experts spoke in general terms, a picture emerged of the Internet tools available, and their strengths and weaknesses.

The New York Times

Sources said the basic plan was approved and codified in general terms in a formal presidential decision document.

The Washington Post

The president makes an eloquent speech announcing an initiative in general terms.

Huffington Post

People process information at different levels of abstraction (e.g., talking about a topic in general terms and then going into the details).

Computers in Human Behavior

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When aiming for generality, favor the phrase "in general terms" to ensure grammatical correctness and clarity. This enhances the professionalism of your writing.

Common error

Avoid using "in a general term"; instead, opt for the grammatically sound alternative, "in general terms", to maintain credibility and precision in your communication.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "in a general term" is intended to function as an introductory phrase, aiming to qualify a statement as broad or non-specific. However, Ludwig AI identifies this as grammatically incorrect. The correct form is "in general terms".

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

33%

News & Media

33%

Academia

33%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "in a general term" is flagged by Ludwig AI as grammatically incorrect; the correct expression is "in general terms". This phrase is used to introduce a broad or non-specific statement, setting the context for a general understanding rather than focusing on specific details. While aiming for a neutral register, the corrected version finds utility in various sources like news, science, and academia contexts. When aiming for generality, opting for "in general terms" ensures grammatical correctness and overall clarity. Alternatives like "in broad terms" and "generally speaking" offer nuanced ways to convey the same idea. The analysis shows the importance of using correct grammatical structures to maintain credibility and ensure precision in communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

in general terms

Corrects the grammar, making it standard English for expressing a general idea.

in broad terms

Focuses on the breadth of the statement rather than generality of a specific term.

speaking generally

Emphasizes that the comment is not intended to be detailed or specific.

generally speaking

Emphasizes that the statement is true in most cases, but not necessarily all.

in a general way

Highlights the manner in which something is discussed, being non-specific.

on the whole

Indicates an overall perspective, considering the majority of aspects.

by and large

Similar to 'on the whole', but may suggest a slight simplification.

as a rule

Implies that there are exceptions to the general statement.

for the most part

Indicates that the statement is mainly true, but not entirely.

in most cases

Highlights the frequency of the statement being true.

FAQs

How can I use the phrase "in general terms" correctly?

Use "in general terms" to introduce a broad overview or description. For example, "In general terms, the project aims to improve community engagement".

What's the difference between "in general terms" and "generally speaking"?

Both phrases introduce generalizations, but "generally speaking" emphasizes the speaker's perspective, while "in general terms" focuses on the description's level of detail. Consider alternatives like "broadly speaking".

Is "in a general term" grammatically correct?

No, "in a general term" is grammatically incorrect. The correct phrase is "in general terms". Using the correct phrasing will improve clarity.

What are some alternatives to the phrase "in general terms"?

Alternatives include "in broad terms", "generally speaking", and "on the whole", each offering a slightly different nuance in conveying a general idea.