Yleispiirteenä

Yleispiirteenä is a Finnish adverbial phrase meaning "in general terms" or "as a general rule." It is formed from the noun yleispiirre, meaning a general feature or common characteristic, together with a suffix that marks the sense of “as” or “in the capacity of.” The expression is used to introduce generalizations and broad observations that are intended to apply in most cases, though not necessarily universally.

In usage, Yleispiirteenä is common in formal writing, research reports, journalism, and policy discussions. It signals that the following statement is a generalization rather than an absolute claim. It can be used at the beginning of a clause, for example, "Yleispiirteenä voidaan todeta, että ..." or "Yleispiirteenä on nähtävissä, että ..." The formulation is often tempered by acknowledging exceptions, and it can be contrasted with more restrictive terms such as yleensä or useimmiten.

Examples: Yleispiirteenä voidaan todeta, että digitalisaatio on lisännyt etätyömahdollisuuksia. Translation: As a general rule, it can be noted that digitalization has increased remote-work opportunities. Yleispiirteenä on huomautettava, että tilastot vaihtelevat alueittain, mikä heijastaa vaihtelua. Translation: In general terms, it should be noted that statistics vary by region, reflecting variation.

Etymology and form: the expression derives from yleispiirre (general feature) with the -nä form indicating “as,” and it is a familiar part of standard written Finnish.

See also: yleisesti, yleinen piirre, yleisesti ottaen.