1. in general/generally/in most cases: use this to say that something is usually true

例：

In general, jobs for temporary workers are low-paid. （一般来说，临时工的工资很低。）

Women generally live longer than men. （一般来说，女人的寿命比男人长。）

Inner-city schools generally achieved lower exam grades than other schools. （内城平民学校学生的成绩普遍没有其他学校的学生好。）

Many tourists visit the region, generally for skiing. （这个地方游客很多，他们一般都是来滑雪的。）

In most cases the system that we have works very well. （一般来说，我们的这个系统很好用。）

2. generally speaking/as a rule: use this to introduce a statement about what usually happens or is true

备注：''generally speaking/as a rule''常用于口语中。

例：

Generally speaking, bright colors make people feel happier. （总的来说，亮色调让人心情更愉快。）

As a rule, French wines are more expensive than those from Eastern Europe. （通常来说，法国酒比东欧酒贵。）

3. mostly: use this to say that something is true about most people, things, or occasions

例：

I drink sugar-free colas, mostly. （我一般都喝无糖可乐。）

The students here are mostly Swiss and German, but sometimes we get a few Japanese, too. （这里的学生大部分都是瑞士人或德国人，我们有时也会收一些日本学生。）

He mostly writes novels, but he's published a book of poetry too. （他的作品一般都是小说，但是他也曾出过一本诗集。）

4. most of the time: use this to say that something usually happens

备注：''most of the time''常用于口语中。

例：

I can speak German, but we speak English most of the time. （我会讲德语，但是我们之间一般讲英语。）

Our two-year-old is happy most of the time, but he wakes up from his naps in an awful mood. （我们两岁的儿子心情一般都很好，但睡醒起床时总会发脾气。）

5. on the whole/by and large: use this to say that something is true most of the time but not every time

例：

The candidates that the party selected tended, on the whole, to be middle-aged, male, and white. （政党选的代表一般都是中年白人男性。）

On the whole, these films are really good. （这些电影普遍都不错。）

Despite their age, the paintings are, on the whole, in very good condition. （尽管年代相当久远，这些画大部分都保存得很好。）

By and large, print is easier to read than handwriting. （一般来说，印刷体比手写的字更容易辨认。）

6. for the most part: use this to say that something is true in most cases

备注：''for the most part''常用于书面语中。

例：

The cell chemistry of these insects is, for the most part, poorly understood. （这些昆虫细胞内的化学反应大部分还不为人知。）

Ethnic minorities have struggled to retain their cultural identity, and have for the most part succeeded. （少数民族人民努力保留他们的文化特性，并且成功保留了很多。）

7. tend: if something tends to happen, it usually happens or is true, but not always

例：

tend to happen/do something

Young children tend to get sick more often than adults. （一般来说，孩子比大人更容易经常生病。）

People tend to need less sleep as they get older. （一般来说，人越老，觉睡得越少。）