'In general' — concession without specifics
'In general', 'broadly speaking', 'as a rule' — phrases that hedge claims without identifying the exceptions.
What ProfText flags
Hedging phrase that weakens the statement. Be specific or own the claim.
Phrases this rule catches
- in general
- generally speaking
- broadly speaking
- by and large
- for the most part
How to fix it
Remove hedge and state the specific conditions when it applies.
Why this matters
'In general' is honest when the author then names the exceptions; it is filler when the exceptions are never spelled out. Most uses fall in the second category, signalling a claim the author wants softened without doing the work of qualifying it. Either commit to the claim or specify the conditions under which it fails.
Languages
Detection pattern
\b(in\s+general|generally\s+speaking|broadly\s+speaking|by\s+and\s+large|for\s+the\s+most\s+part)\b
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