"by and large" 是一个总结性短语,意为 "大体上;总的来说;基本上"(in most cases; generally speaking),用于对某件事或某种情况进行整体评价,强调"大部分如此,并非绝对,但整体趋势成立"。
该短语是副词性短语,在句中通常作状语,位置灵活:可放句首、句中(用逗号隔开)或句尾。
By and large, the new policy has improved working conditions.
(大体上,新政策改善了工作条件。)
The restaurant is, by and large, a good place to eat—though the service can be slow sometimes.
(这家餐厅总的来说不错——虽然服务有时很慢。)
I think the team performed well by and large.
(我认为这个团队大体上表现不错。)
后面接完整句子:"by and large" 不直接修饰名词,需接完整的主谓结构(或省略主语的短句)。
错误:By and large the book.(缺谓语)
正确:By and large, the book is worth reading.(书大体上值得一读。)
与转折连用:常和 "though/but" 等转折词搭配,突出"整体好,但有小瑕疵"的逻辑。
By and large, I enjoy living here, but the traffic is a nightmare.
(总的来说我喜欢住在这儿,但交通太糟糕了。)
on the whole:更正式,强调"整体上"(可替换 "by and large")。
generally speaking:更口语,强调"一般情况下"。
for the most part:强调"大部分情况"(更具体)。
"by and large" 是一个中性偏积极的总结短语,用于快速概括"整体趋势",避免绝对化。记住它的核心逻辑:"大部分如此,不是100%,但整体成立"。