in general words

USAGE SUMMARY

"in general words" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to something discussed in general terms, rather than specific terms. For example, "The professor discussed the topic of climate change in general words, without going into too much detail."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

Wiki

Encyclopedias

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

In general, words are fairly imprecise, yet for particular purposes their meanings can be tightened up, usually by bringing in more words or phrases to divide up a given field in more detail.

Encyclopedia Britannica

In general words, the patch Ψ p that has most of the pixels already in the source region and very few on the target region has high priority.

EURASIP Journal on Advances in Signal Processing

Thus, the spatial clustering of functional genome elements (in general, words or k-mers) would somewhat remember the situation in literary texts, where keywords show a strong clustering, whereas common words are randomly distributed [ 5].

Algorithms for Molecular Biology

In general, words with inconsistent spelling sound mappings (e.g., PINT has many enemies such as MINT, HINT, LINT, but no friends) elicit longer naming latencies than words with consistent spelling sound mapping (Baron and Strawson 1976; Glushko 1979; Andrews 1982; Taraban and McClelland 1987; Jared 1997, 2002).

Cerebral Cortex

Put it in general words.

WikiHow

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

In general, word stems are used to identify classes of drugs, in most cases placed word-finally.

Wikipedia

In general, word counting methods start with the mapping from sequences to vectors which store the length of each word.

BioMed Research International

VFV: She worked in the idealization of the study, literature review, data collection, result analysis, and discussion and in the general wording of the article.

Psicologia: Reflexão e Crítica

That in itself could be a very lengthy article, but the short answer is that input from scholars and publishers from the English-speaking world plays the major role in establishing grammatical standards, but how people in general use words also plays a part, especially where certain words or phrases are common in one particular geographic region, but are generally considered to be incorrect.

Huffington Post

Reilly chose 15 "utterly cringeworthy words" that have historically been used to demean women's body parts and to demean people in general.Words like "pussy" and "cunt," for example, are not only used to describe women's vaginas, they are used just as often as emasculating, vicious insults. .

Huffington Post

In general, chemical words in chemical structure diagrams fall into one of three types: simple molecular formulas representing a combination of nonmetal and hydrogen atoms (e.g. NH2), user defined symbols like X, Y and R, and chemical abbreviations (e.g., three letters for amino acids or "Me" for methyl group).

Chemistry Central Journal

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "in general words" when you want to convey an idea without getting bogged down in specifics. It's best suited for overviews and summaries.

Common error

Don't overuse "in general words" as a substitute for precise language when precision is needed. Ensure your communication still provides sufficient clarity and direction.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "in general words" functions as a prepositional phrase, typically used adverbially to modify a verb or clause. It indicates the manner in which something is expressed, emphasizing a lack of specificity. As Ludwig AI notes, it is a usable phrase.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

40%

Wiki

20%

News & Media

20%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

20%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "in general words" is a grammatically correct and usable expression, as confirmed by Ludwig AI, that indicates communication is occurring in a broad and non-specific manner. Although its frequency is rare, it is utilized across diverse fields such as science, encyclopedias, wikis, and news media. When using this phrase, it is important to consider the context and audience, ensuring the level of detail is appropriate. While the phrase is helpful for providing overviews, it should not be used as a substitute for precise language when accuracy is essential. Alternatives such as "generally speaking" or "in broad terms" can offer similar meanings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

generally speaking

This alternative emphasizes a broad overview or statement applicable in most situations, omitting specific details.

in broad terms

This alternative highlights the use of wide-ranging language to describe something without specifics.

in layman's terms

This alternative indicates the simplification of complex concepts for a non-expert audience.

in simple language

This alternative focuses on using uncomplicated vocabulary and sentence structure for easy understanding.

to put it simply

This alternative highlights the intent to explain something straightforwardly and clearly.

in a nutshell

This alternative emphasizes a brief and concise summary, capturing the essence of something.

in essence

This alternative focuses on the fundamental nature or core meaning of something.

overall

This alternative indicates a general perspective or summary of something, avoiding specific details.

in summary

This alternative denotes a concise restatement of key points, providing a general overview.

in rough terms

This suggests a lack of precision and the use of approximate or vague language.

FAQs

How can I use "in general words" in a sentence?

You can use "in general words" to indicate that you are speaking broadly, such as, "The lecturer explained the theory "in general words" before diving into specific examples".

What phrases are similar to "in general words"?

Alternatives to "in general words" include "generally speaking", "in broad terms", or "in simple language". Each carries a slightly different nuance but conveys a similar idea of simplification.

Is it always appropriate to use "in general words"?

While "in general words" is useful for overviews, it may not be suitable when detailed explanations are required. Ensure the context allows for broad descriptions without sacrificing necessary precision.

What's the difference between "in general words" and "in specific terms"?

"In general words" implies a broad, less detailed explanation, whereas "in specific terms" indicates a detailed and precise explanation. The choice depends on the level of detail needed for effective communication.