broadly speaking — generalising
expressionC1IELTS 7+formalcommon
Used to introduce a general statement that does not include every detail or exception.
Say it like a native
Textbook Speaking in general and approximate terms, without attention to specific exceptions, it works.
Native Broadly speaking, it works well.
The chunk hedges a generalisation in two words; the formal version is a whole clause.
Pattern: broadly speaking, [clause]
In use
- Broadly speaking, people in big cities tend to have a faster pace of life.daily life
- Broadly speaking, technology has made communication much easier, although there are still some challenges for older generations.IELTS speaking
Common mistake
✗ Broad speaking, it's fine.
✓ Broadly speaking, it's fine.
It's 'broadly' (adverb), not 'broad'.
Common collocations
broadly speaking + generalisation— there are, it's, we can, two types
Don't confuse it
'Broadly speaking' is more formal than 'generally', and less absolute than 'in fact'. It signals you are summarising or simplifying.