overview of the situation

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "overview of the situation" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when summarizing or providing a general understanding of a particular context or issue. Example: "Before we proceed with the discussion, let me give you an overview of the situation regarding the project delays."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"We still do not feel we have an overview of the situation.

The Guardian - Business

"But the team did the best job of maintaining an overview of the situation and took the right actions".

The Guardian - Sport

Brown received a useful briefing from the AFSouth commander, who gave the PM a "half-glass full, half empty," overview of the situation, according to Evans.

The Guardian

In other words, with the greatest possible respect to Dr. Hatzius, his paper is not really what I would call a serious overview of the situation.

The New York Times

As Manny Fernandez reports today in an overview of the situation, the accident has prompted a new wave of concern among those who live and work near cranes.

The New York Times

Penrose says those lunches were at a time of "heightened fear of terror" and were "largely to give context and overview" of the situation.

The Guardian

And critical capabilities — like NATO's AWACS planes and AGS unmanned vehicles — provide soldiers and pilots with an overview of the situation in the air and on the ground.

The New York Times

Last June we offered readers a broad overview of the situation, with a special focus on the role of climate change in constraining global food production.

The New York Times

The book discusses the 1996 terrorist bombing, which killed 19 United States servicemen, as part of an overview of the situation in the Middle East as it affects the oil supply.

The New York Times - Tech

There are plans for tablet computers, connected by wireless network, that will give each battalion chief at a fire both an overview of the situation and a means to relay updates.

The New York Times - Tech

Susan Biggin gives an overview of the situation and its impact on young researchers.

Science Magazine

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "overview of the situation", ensure the context clearly indicates what situation is being summarized. Providing specific details after introducing the phrase helps the audience grasp the subject more effectively.

Common error

Avoid using "overview of the situation" without providing any context. Always follow up with details about the situation to give the reader a clear understanding of what you are referring to.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "overview of the situation" functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as the object of a verb or preposition. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it introduces a summary or a general understanding of a specific context or issue. For example, it can be used to preface an explanation or a briefing.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

43%

Science

30%

Formal & Business

27%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "overview of the situation" is a common and grammatically sound phrase used to introduce a summary or general understanding of a particular context. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is prevalent in news, science, and formal business settings. To effectively use the expression, ensure clarity and context by providing specific details about the situation being summarized. Avoid using the phrase without providing enough information, and consider alternatives like "summary of the facts" or "general picture" depending on the desired level of formality. Remember that "overview of situation" without the "the" is grammatically incorrect in formal writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Summary of the present conditions

Focuses on a concise summary, replacing "overview" with "summary" and "situation" with "present conditions".

Synopsis of the state of affairs

Replaces "overview" with "synopsis" and "situation" with "state of affairs", offering a slightly more formal tone.

Comprehensive account of the circumstances

Emphasizes completeness, replacing "overview" with "comprehensive account" and "situation" with "circumstances".

An appraisal of the circumstances

Offers an evaluative perspective, replacing "overview" with "appraisal" and "situation" with "circumstances".

General picture of what's happening

Uses simpler language, replacing "overview" with "general picture" and "situation" with "what's happening".

Overall assessment of the case

Focuses on evaluation, replacing "overview" with "overall assessment" and "situation" with "case".

Briefing on the current context

Suggests a formal presentation, replacing "overview of the situation" with "briefing on the current context".

A broad outline of the matter

Replaces "overview" with "broad outline" and "situation" with "matter", offering a slightly more generic expression.

A global perspective on the issue

Highlights a wide-ranging view, replacing "overview" with "global perspective" and "situation" with "issue".

A bird's-eye view of the affair

Uses a metaphor to indicate a comprehensive but distant perspective.

FAQs

How can I use "overview of the situation" in a sentence?

You can use "overview of the situation" to introduce a summary or explanation. For example, "Let me give you an "overview of the situation" before we proceed."

What are some alternatives to "overview of the situation"?

Alternatives include "summary of the facts", "general picture", or "briefing on the context" depending on the formality and detail required.

Is "overview of situation" grammatically correct?

While understandable, omitting "the" is grammatically incorrect in formal writing. It's better to use "overview of the situation" for clarity and correctness.

When should I use "synopsis of the situation" instead of "overview of the situation"?

Use "synopsis of the situation" when you need a very concise and brief summary. "Overview" generally implies a more detailed account than "synopsis".