Guide 82 / 200 4 alternatives 2-minute read
Better ways to say “Generally speaking”
Two words for a hedge.
i · Why avoid itTwo lines, no filler
"Generally speaking" softens a claim so much that it often drains the sentence. "In general," "broadly," or "mostly" are tighter; best of all is to say whether the claim is universal or has exceptions.
ii · Before & afterDrop-in demo
Before
Generally speaking, our customers prefer annual plans.
After
Most of our customers prefer annual plans.
iii · The alternatives4 ways out
- 01In general neutral
same meaning, shorter
In general, customers prefer annual plans.
- 02Broadly neutral
formal summary
Broadly, customers prefer annual plans.
- 03Mostly neutral
quantitative sense
Mostly, customers prefer annual plans.
- 04On the whole neutral
reflective tone
On the whole, customers prefer annual plans.
iv · Brew tipKeep this one
If you can quote a rough proportion ("most," "many," "over half"), that beats any hedge.