General (Broad, vague, applicable to many things)
* Thing: "There was a strange *thing* in the attic." (What *thing*? We don't know!)
* Person: "A friendly *person* helped me find my way." (Who? What did they look like?)
* Place: "Let's go to a nice *place* for dinner." (Which restaurant? What kind of food?)
* Time: "I'll be back *later*." (How much later? In an hour? Tomorrow?)
* Idea: "He had a great *idea* for a business." (What was the idea? What kind of business?)
Specific (Narrow, clear, focused)
* Object: "There was a dusty old *suitcase* in the attic." (Now we have a specific object)
* Man: "A friendly *man with a beard* helped me find my way." (Now we have a more specific description)
* Restaurant: "Let's go to the new Italian *restaurant* for dinner." (Now we know exactly where)
* Evening: "I'll be back this *evening*." (Now we know a more specific time frame)
* Proposal: "He had a great *proposal* for a software company." (Now we have an idea about the business)
How "General" Can Be Useful:
* Creating intrigue: A general word can make the reader curious, wanting to learn more.
* Making a point broadly: "People need *help*." (This is true for many people, without being specific).
* Talking about abstract concepts: "Life is full of *challenges*." (A general statement about a complex idea).
The Key:
The more general the word, the less specific and precise the meaning. The more specific the word, the more detail and clarity you provide.