por lo general
adverbCEFR B2
What does “por lo general” mean in English?
generally, as a rule
generally, as a rule (hedging adverbial marking a generalisation, not a universal claim)
Example sentences
Por lo general, los proyectos de esta envergadura requieren más tiempo del previsto inicialmente.
As a rule, projects of this scope take longer than initially planned.
Este tipo de políticas, por lo general, produce resultados visibles a medio plazo, no a corto.
This type of policy generally produces visible results in the medium term, not the short term.
Los acuerdos de este tipo son, por lo general, más difíciles de implementar de lo que parecen sobre el papel.
Agreements of this type are, as a rule, harder to implement than they appear on paper.
How to use it
Por lo general means 'generally', 'as a rule', 'in general'. It is a hedging adverbial collocation used to mark a generalisation rather than a universal claim. Construction: por lo general (fronted adverbial or sentence-medial). Contrast with en general (slightly more neutral, used for summarising), generalmente (single-word adverb), and por regla general (synonymous but more emphatic). At B2, using por lo general instead of siempre marks a more sophisticated, calibrated register.
Common mistake
Por lo general ≠ en general (different scope): en general summarises ('In general, the results are good') while por lo general hedges a tendency ('Generally, things take longer'). Don't use *por lo generalmente (double hedging, ungrammatical). The article is fixed: por lo general — never *por el general.