Meaning
generally; considering everything
Primary Function
generalisation / summary connector
Communicative Purpose
to offer a broad assessment
Pattern
On the whole
Core Structure
On the whole
Função primária
generalisation / summary connector
Propósito comunicativo
to offer a broad assessment
Situações de gatilho
reviews, reports, reflective commentary
Contextos
neutral, slightly formal
Padrão
On the whole
Estrutura central
On the whole
Slots de substituição
any general statement, assessment, or conclusion about the overall situation
Colocados típicos
- the project
- participants
- customers
- the results
- the performance
Substituições comuns
- broadly speaking
- generally
Erros comuns
confusing with ‘in the whole’ (not an English phrase)
Similar / contraste
by and large, in general
Interferências
none significant
Família do chunk
- generalization connectors
Nuance
suggests a 30,000-ft view, not detailed
Efeito pragmático
softens a statement by acknowledging minor exceptions
Dica de memória
overall performance
Nota
This chunk is often used to introduce a general statement or conclusion, softening the tone by implying that there may be minor exceptions or variations.
Upgrade path
generally → on the whole → by and large
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