üldjoones

Üldjoones is an Estonian term used in academic, journalistic, and formal writing to indicate statements that are broad, high level, or non-specific. The expression conveys that the speaker is presenting general trends, overarching conclusions, or an overall outline rather than precise, detail-by-detail findings. In English, it is often rendered as “in general terms” or “in broad strokes.”

Etymology and sense. The word combines tähenduses allgemein- elements: üksikjoon or line imagery with the general prefix üld- meaning “general” or “overall.” The resulting concept is a general line of reasoning or an overarching description that intentionally abstracts away from particulars to highlight wider patterns.

Usage. Üldjoones appears most often in scholarly prose, policy reports, and reflective writing where authors want to signal a shift from specifics to generalities. It helps readers focus on broad implications, tendencies across a dataset, or the overall direction of an argument. Because it marks generality, it is typically used when precision is either unnecessary or forthcoming elsewhere in the text.

Relation to related terms. It shares space with terms like üldine ülevaade (general overview), üldine järeldus (general conclusion), and üldjooneline kirjeldus (high-level description). Unlike precise statistical statements or case-specific notes, ümldjoones signals a broad framing rather than exactitude.

See also. Generalization, overview, outline, high-level description.