I am writing a scientific paper, and I want to convey the idea that one advantage of a centralized management approach is that it provides a "bird's eye point of view." However, I found few other papers that use this expression, particularly in my research field. Is it considered informal? Is there a better way to express this?
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1Are you trying to say it gives you a view from high in the sky? What point are you trying to convey with "a bird's eye point of view"?– HankCommented Jan 30, 2017 at 16:20
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2Just because you can't find some expression in some field of research does not make it informal. Sometimes a bird's eye view can be called an overview. Not everything has already been written. And the entire idea is very anxiety-provoking (to me). I am sure there are potentially thousands of expressions such as this that have not yet used in some field of research or other.– LambieCommented Jan 30, 2017 at 16:22
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2Consider 'high level overview'?– SpagirlCommented Jan 30, 2017 at 16:27
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I'm not sure what you mean by "few". Assuming Google Scholar's numbers are accurate, there are more than a few, see here and here. Some of these use the expression to mean "top down view", others use it to mean "overview".– Laurel ♦Commented Jan 30, 2017 at 16:38
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1You were perfectly clear, but what you are describing is a complete view of the network, not a "bird's eye point of view." "Bird's eye view" is a standard expression in English. If you use "bird's eye point of view," you will sound like a non-native English speaker. This is the problem with using idioms: if you don't use them correctly, they will not sound natural and professional. (Otherwise, your English is very good!)– Mark HubbardCommented Jan 30, 2017 at 18:24
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3 Answers
In my opinion, it is fine to use this phrase in a scientific paper, but there are other better ways to convey this. "A Bird's Eye View" or "a bird's eye point of view" can be confused with a top-down view. I think the word you are looking for is "overview".
Alternately, you could say a strategic (or high-level, as opposed to tactical or low-level) view; more concerned with the bigger picture and goals than the details of how to accomplish them.
From an engineering technical position, a bird's eye view is called the "plan view". This may be useful.
