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In General for Dummies

adverb


What does In General really mean?

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Student: Hey, teacher! I'm still having trouble understanding what "in general" means. Can you explain it to me in a simple way?

Teacher: Absolutely, my student! I'm here to help you grasp the concept of "in general." Now, imagine you have a big jar filled with different colored marbles. Each marble represents something or someone. However, you can't look at each individual marble up close because the jar is too crowded. So, to get an idea of what the marbles as a whole represent, you would have to look at them "in general" – taking a step back to see the overall picture without focusing on the specific details.

Similarly, when we use the phrase "in general," we're talking about looking at the big picture, the broader view, without getting too caught up in all the little details. It's like zooming out with a camera lens and seeing the world as a whole, not just one specific part of it.

This phrase can also be used to describe a situation or a statement that applies most of the time, but not always. Think of it as a general rule that is usually true, but there might be exceptions. For example, if I were to say, "In general, dogs are friendly animals," it means that many dogs tend to be friendly, but it doesn't necessarily mean that every single dog in the world is friendly. Some dogs might be a bit more reserved or even aggressive, despite the general rule.

So, "in general" is like a shortcut to talking about the bigger picture or sharing a general observation without going into every little detail or acknowledging the exceptions. It gives us a way to talk about most situations or things without having to mention all the specific cases.

Student: Ah, I see! It's like looking at a forest from far away instead of examining each individual tree. And it's also like when we say most things are a certain way, but there can always be exceptions!

Teacher: Exactly! You nailed it, my student! It's like appreciating the beauty and vastness of the forest without getting too caught up in each specific tree. And when we say "in general," we are acknowledging that most things operate in a certain way, but there may be exceptions or specific cases that don't necessarily follow that pattern.

So, now that you understand what "in general" means, can you think of any other examples or situations where this phrase might be used?

Revised and Fact checked by Robert Taylor on 2023-10-29 02:27:29

In General In a sentece

Learn how to use In General inside a sentece

  • In general, dogs are friendly and like to play with people.
  • In general, it is important to eat a balanced diet for good health.
  • In general, cars use gasoline or electricity to run.
  • In general, plants need sunlight, water, and nutrients to grow.
  • In general, people celebrate birthdays with parties and gifts.

In General Synonyms

Words that can be interchanged for the original word in the same context.