universally

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "universally" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that is applicable or accepted everywhere or by everyone without exception. Example: "The concept of fairness is universally recognized as a fundamental human right."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

London campuses have not proved universally successful (the University of East Anglia recently closed its campus, which had 325 students), but Coventry's is doing reasonably well, in particular with international students: of its 867 students, 678 are from non-EU countries.

The Guardian

Universally heartfelt tributes flooded in from politicians on Twitter this morning.

The Guardian

"Spitting is universally recognised as perhaps the ultimate degradation and it's bound to result in rather aggressive retaliation," mused the consultant psychologist Dr Aric Sigman years later, in some nostalgia-based clip show or other.

The Guardian - Sport

Germany's dealing with its two difficult pasts – the East German state socialist dictatorship and, much more importantly, Nazism and the Holocaust – has almost universally been considered a success, even a model for others to emulate.

The Guardian - Opinion

The minister's letter concedes it has never been universally loved, but points out that in 1979 and 1980, soon after it opened, it won a string of construction and design awards.

The Guardian - Arts

That commitment followed the party through the election and into government, although it was not universally popular.

The Guardian

Reaction to the news has not been universally positive among Guardian readers: Adaptating sitcoms for the big screen can of course yield decent results – see recent examples Alpha Papa, The Inbetweeners and In the Loop.

The Guardian - Film

"Most of the candidates we talk to are living with parents, in many cases ageing parents, and all the ones that come across our radar, are universally keen to work".

The Guardian - Business

Margaret Simpson Northern Light Charters, 01631 740595, northernlight-uk.com It is a truth universally acknowledged that a woman not in possession of a boyfriend goes on holiday with her friends.

The Guardian - Travel

But the OSCE observer report on the election catalogued many "legal and organisational shortcomings," noting that slavish media coverage gave Karimov a "clear advantage" and that "proxy voting on behalf of several voters appeared to be universally practised".

The Guardian

"The importance of counting the dead and retrieving their bodies is universally acknowledged as a crucial step in acknowledging their loss and producing an account of their deaths," it says.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "universally", ensure the context clearly supports the claim that something applies without exception. Avoid hyperbole by verifying that the statement is indeed widely accepted or applicable.

Common error

Be careful not to use "universally" when the situation only applies to specific contexts or groups. Instead of saying "It is universally believed", consider "It is widely believed among experts" to avoid generalization.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "universally" is to act as an adverb. It modifies verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs to indicate that an action, quality, or state is applicable or recognized by everyone or everything without exception. Ludwig AI confirms this through numerous examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Formal & Business

25%

Science

25%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The adverb "universally" signifies that something applies to everyone or everything without exception. Ludwig AI confirms it is grammatically correct and widely used, primarily in news, formal business, and scientific contexts. While it conveys widespread acceptance, it's essential to ensure that the context genuinely supports this claim, avoiding overgeneralization. Alternatives such as "globally", "widely", or "generally" can be used for nuances of applicability. Understanding these subtleties ensures precise and effective communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Without exception

Emphasizes that something applies to all instances, leaving no room for exceptions.

Across the board

Suggests that something applies evenly to all members of a group or category.

In every instance

Highlights that something happens or is true in each and every case.

Globally

Focuses on worldwide or international scope.

Generally

Indicates that something is true or applicable in most cases, but not necessarily all.

Widely

Highlights the extent to which something is common or prevalent.

Commonly

Focuses on frequency and regularity of occurrence.

Without fail

Emphasizes the reliability and consistency of something happening.

Invariably

Highlights the unchanging nature of something's occurrence.

All around

Implies that something encompasses everyone or everything within a certain environment.

FAQs

How is "universally" used in a sentence?

The adverb "universally" is used to describe actions or states that apply to everyone or everything without exception. For instance, "The importance of counting the dead is "universally acknowledged" as a crucial step."

What can I say instead of "universally"?

You can use alternatives like "globally", "widely", or "generally" depending on the specific meaning you want to convey. Each of these options /s/globally, /s/widely, /s/generally offers a slightly different nuance.

Is it correct to say "almost universally"?

Yes, using "almost universally" is correct when something applies in nearly all cases but may have a few exceptions. This acknowledges that something isn't 100% universal while still emphasizing its widespread nature.

What's the difference between "universally" and "generally"?

"Universally" means without exception, whereas "generally" implies that something is true in most cases but not necessarily all. "Universally" is stronger and more absolute than /s/generally.