to avoid specificity

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "to avoid specificity" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing the intention to remain vague or general in communication or description. Example: "In order to avoid specificity, the report used broad terms to describe the project's goals."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

And although he and his friends used the word "bug" (Wanze) when referring casually to the story, the language that appears in the novella itself is carefully chosen to avoid specificity.

The New Yorker

In order to avoid specificity in classifier strength determination, eight different approaches are applied, including the computationally costly "exhaustive search" together with the leave-one-out technique.

Expert Systems with Applications

At first sight, this looks like a possibility for biobanks to avoid specificity as long as they institute adequate safeguards.

Life Sciences, Society and Policy

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

To further avoid specificity of the feature for a given classifier, two classifiers (Bayes and SVM) are tested.

Expert Systems with Applications

Autoregulatory domains represent attractive alternative targets for small molecule inhibitors because they also occur in noncatalytic proteins and because allosteric inhibitors may avoid specificity problems inherent in active site directed inhibitors.

Nature

It was the maximal concentration we used in our subsequent experiments since its effect on Hh signaling was similar to the one observed after cell differentiation, and to avoid possible specificity issues [24].

Plosone

For this purpose, and to avoid tissue specificity, we subjected mixture of RNA samples from four tissues (brain, lungs, muscle, and heart) extracted from a single C. chamaeleon specimen to MPS using the SOLiD ABI platform.

Genome Biology and Evolution

Yet the beauty of Ulrich's music is how it avoids specificity, leaving it to listeners to imagine where they want to be.

The New Yorker

So we avoided specificity and really strove to curate a show that was inclusive of different forms and ideas about queerness".

Vice

This catch-all term avoids specificity, though, and allows authorities to impose limits without clarifying real goals and objectives.

Vice

I think the administration was smart to avoid too much specificity about location right now.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "to avoid specificity" when you intentionally want to remain general or vague in your writing. This can be useful when discussing sensitive topics or when the exact details are not important.

Common error

While "to avoid specificity" can be useful, don't let it be a crutch for avoiding crucial details that provide clarity and context. Balance generality with enough concrete information to keep your writing meaningful.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "to avoid specificity" functions as an infinitive phrase expressing the purpose or intention behind an action. As Ludwig AI pointed out, the phrase indicates a deliberate choice to remain general or vague.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

75%

News & Media

20%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Social Media

0%

Reference

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "to avoid specificity" is a grammatically sound and usable expression to indicate a deliberate choice to remain vague or general. While Ludwig AI confirms its correctness, its usage is not particularly frequent, primarily appearing in scientific and news contexts. When using this phrase, ensure you balance the need for generality with providing enough clarity to maintain the overall message.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

to not be too specific

A straightforward way of saying the same thing, with a slightly different emphasis.

to remain vague

Highlights the state of being unclear, instead of the action taken to achieve it.

to keep it general

A more informal way of expressing the intent to avoid specifics.

to maintain ambiguity

Focuses on maintaining a lack of clarity, rather than actively avoiding details.

for the sake of generality

Highlights that the reason to avoid specificity is to achieve generality.

to generalize

Implies making a broad statement, foregoing specific details.

to eschew details

Indicates a conscious decision to avoid providing specific details.

to ensure broad applicability

Focuses on making something applicable to a wider range of cases.

to abstract away details

Suggests removing specific details to focus on a higher-level concept.

to obscure the particulars

Emphasizes hiding or making the specific details less noticeable.

FAQs

How can I use "to avoid specificity" in a sentence?

You can use "to avoid specificity" to introduce a reason for being vague or general, such as: "The report used broad terms "to avoid specificity"."

What does "to avoid specificity" mean?

"To avoid specificity" means to intentionally refrain from providing detailed or precise information, choosing instead to use general terms or descriptions.

When is it appropriate to use vague language?

Vague language can be appropriate when exact details are unknown, irrelevant, or potentially harmful to disclose. It's also useful "to avoid specificity" when summarizing complex information.

What are some alternative ways to say "to avoid specificity"?

Some alternatives include "to remain vague", "to keep it general", or "to maintain ambiguity", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.