Guide 183 / 200 4 alternatives 2-minute read
Better ways to say “broadly speaking”
A qualifier that licences a generalisation.
i · Why avoid itTwo lines, no filler
Warns the reader "this claim has exceptions." Useful when precision doesn't serve; lazy when the writer hasn't actually looked. If you have exact numbers, use them.
ii · Before & afterDrop-in demo
Before
Broadly speaking, customer satisfaction is up.
After
Satisfaction scores rose from 72 to 79 this quarter.
iii · The alternatives4 ways out
- 01Generally neutral
interchangeable
Generally, satisfaction is up.
- 02On average neutral
averaged measure
On average, satisfaction is up.
- 03In most cases neutral
explicit majority
In most cases, satisfaction improved.
- 04[delete it] neutral
when you have numbers
Satisfaction rose from 72 to 79.
iv · Brew tipKeep this one
"Broadly speaking" is a licence plate for claims that haven't been measured.