Whistle Stop's remark about M.Ted's post illustrates what I meant by referring to "very broad and general chord patterns." I might speak of a pattern that steps through the circle of fifths as a "I-VI-II-V" pattern, with the understanding that the VI, for example, may be a VI major, VI seventh, VI minor--it's going to be a VI something. Getting more specific, a typical "Doo Wop" pattern might be referred to as I-VIm-IIm-V7, or one pattern for "Salty Dog" would be I-VI7-II7-V7, while some other folks might play the same song as I-VI-II-V. All three of these specific examples fit the broad I-VI-II-V pattern, but they obviously don't interchange. I try to make it clear whether I'm talking in the most general terms or being specific, to avoid the potential confusion.