widely accepted rule

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "widely accepted rule" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to a principle or guideline that is generally recognized and followed by a large number of people or within a specific field. Example: "In academic writing, the widely accepted rule is to cite all sources to avoid plagiarism."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

I don't think it is a widely accepted rule.

Vice

A widely accepted rule is that for each variable about 10 cases are required to prevent over-fitting of the model (Events Per Variable rule) [ 26].

BMC Pulmonary Medicine

In the past years, many newly approved drug molecules are breaking the widely accepted rule of 5 for drug-likeness, this improving and updating methods for calculating drug-likeness is an important problem.

Biology Direct

A widely accepted rule of thumb is that the more you wear something, the faster you will get used to it.

WikiHow

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

But the slowdown failed to meet the widely accepted rule-of-thumb definition for a recession, of two consecutive quarters of economic contraction.

The New York Times

These are the widely accepted rules of success, which women must follow as well as men, regardless of their circumstance.

The Guardian

This "social market" rests on widely accepted rules and practices: to encourage long-termism; to promote collaboration rather than conflict in the workplace; to incentivise employers to invest in the skills and productivity of their workers; and to try to ensure prosperity is available to Germans in all regions rather than just one.

The Guardian - Opinion

The Court manages to reach the opposite conclusion only by disregarding widely accepted rules for service-provider liability and adopting in their place an improvised standard ("looks-like-cable-TV") that will sow confusion for years to come.

TechCrunch

The widely accepted rules regarding ancient DNA work mainly affect laboratory procedures, however, pre-laboratory contamination occurring during excavation and archaeological-/anthropological handling of human remains as well as rapid degradation of authentic DNA after excavation are major obstacles.

Plosone

In the case of conflicting prima facie reasons, Pollock rejects the principle of specificity, a widely accepted principle according to which the defeasible rule with the more specific antecedent takes priority over conflicting rules with less specific antecedents.

SEP

Similarly, privacy is a widely accepted principle.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "widely accepted rule", ensure the rule is indeed broadly recognized and not just your personal opinion. Back it up with evidence or context.

Common error

Avoid assuming a rule is "widely accepted" without verifying its broad recognition. What may be common knowledge in one field could be unknown or contested in another.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "widely accepted rule" functions as a noun phrase, where "widely accepted" modifies the noun "rule". It indicates a principle or guideline that is generally recognized and followed. As Ludwig AI suggests, it is grammatically correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

40%

Wiki

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "widely accepted rule" is a grammatically sound and generally recognized phrase used to describe a principle or guideline that is broadly agreed upon. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in English writing. While common in news, science, and wiki contexts, it's crucial to verify a rule's actual acceptance before using the phrase. Alternatives include "commonly held principle" and "generally acknowledged standard". Remember that assuming universal acceptance can be misleading. Always ensure the rule's validity within the specific context. The phrase carries a neutral tone, suitable for a wide range of professional or neutral settings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

commonly held principle

Emphasizes the shared understanding and agreement on a basic idea.

generally acknowledged standard

Focuses on the recognition and acceptance of a specific level of quality or performance.

established norm

Highlights the fact that a specific behavior or expectation has become typical or usual.

prevailing convention

Stresses the widespread practice or custom that is currently dominant.

universal guideline

Suggests a rule that is applicable to everyone in all situations.

accepted wisdom

Highlights a belief or idea that is so commonly held that it is rarely questioned.

standard practice

Emphasizes the method that is usually used or followed.

customary procedure

Refers to the established way of doing something.

conventional wisdom

Points to beliefs or ideas that are popular but may not be accurate.

typical approach

Highlights the method that is most often used or considered.

FAQs

How can I use "widely accepted rule" in a sentence?

You can use "widely accepted rule" to refer to a principle or guideline that is generally recognized and followed. For example: "A "widely accepted rule" in software development is to write clean, well-documented code."

What's a more formal alternative to "widely accepted rule"?

More formal alternatives include "generally acknowledged standard", "established norm", or "prevailing convention". These options may be more suitable for academic or professional writing.

Is it always safe to assume a "widely accepted rule" is correct?

While a "widely accepted rule" is generally considered valid, it's important to remember that knowledge evolves. Critically evaluate even "widely accepted rules" and be open to new evidence or perspectives.

What is the difference between a "widely accepted rule" and a "rule of thumb"?

A "widely accepted rule" is a principle that's generally agreed upon and followed, often based on evidence or reason. A "rule of thumb" is a practical, experience-based guideline that's not always precise or universally applicable.