overall trend

USAGE SUMMARY

The term 'overall trend' is correct and usable in written English.
You could use the term 'overall trend' when you want to describe a larger, more comprehensive pattern that is made up of individual elements or components. For example, "Data from the past decade showed an overall trend of an increase in global temperatures."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The overall trend hasn't changed.

The Guardian

Yet the overall trend is strongly upwards.

The Economist

"But it's not an overall trend.

The New York Times

"But they can't escape the overall trend".

The New York Times

There is no overall trend toward stricter gun control.

The Guardian - Opinion

The overall trend since January, however, has been continuously upward.

The New York Times

The overall trend is a very strong downward one, however.

The Guardian

The overall trend, however, is a cool down.

The New York Times

For sure, the overall trend, year on year, is up.

The Economist

But I don't know they'd change the overall trend".

The New York Times - Magazine

Yet the overall trend is that of M.&A.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing data or statistics, use "overall trend" to highlight a significant pattern observed over a period.

Common error

Avoid mistaking temporary spikes or dips for the "overall trend". Ensure you're looking at data over a sufficiently long period to identify the genuine underlying direction.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "overall trend" functions as a noun phrase, where "overall" modifies "trend". Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness, and the examples illustrate its use in summarizing data patterns. It specifies a general direction or tendency, providing a high-level view of developments.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

35%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "overall trend" is a versatile and commonly used expression, as confirmed by Ludwig AI. It serves to describe a general direction or pattern observed over a period, mostly in contexts related to news, science, and business. While grammatically sound and widely accepted, it's important to distinguish between short-term fluctuations and genuine "overall trends". Alternatives such as "general direction" or "prevailing tendency" can offer nuanced ways to express similar concepts. By avoiding the confusion of temporary spikes with long-term directions, you can effectively communicate the core meaning of "overall trend" in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

general direction

Focuses more on the directional aspect rather than a statistical observation.

prevailing tendency

Emphasizes the dominance of a specific inclination.

dominant pattern

Highlights a recurring configuration as the most significant aspect.

primary direction

Similar to "general direction", it suggests a main route of movement or change.

chief inclination

Stresses the main leaning or disposition.

mainstream tendency

Indicates a tendency that is widely accepted or followed.

overarching pattern

Suggests a comprehensive configuration that encompasses smaller patterns.

broad tendency

Implies a wide-ranging inclination, applicable across different contexts.

comprehensive pattern

Highlights that the pattern is inclusive and covers all aspects.

long-term tendency

Focuses on the persistence of an inclination over an extended period.

FAQs

How can I use "overall trend" in a sentence?

You can use "overall trend" to describe a general pattern or direction in data, such as "The "overall trend" shows an increase in remote work".

What is a synonym for "overall trend"?

Alternatives to "overall trend" include "general direction", "prevailing tendency", or "dominant pattern".

Is it correct to say "the overall trend is upwards"?

Yes, "the overall trend is upwards" is grammatically correct. You can also say "the "overall trend" is downward", "stable", or "volatile" depending on the context.

What's the difference between "overall trend" and "current trend"?

"Overall trend" refers to a pattern over a long period, while "current trend" indicates what's happening right now. For instance, the "overall trend" might be growth, but the current trend could be a temporary slowdown.