generalization
generalization — noun
1. a statement that treats a small number of experiences as if they apply to all si
a statement that treats a small number of experiences as if they apply to all similar situations, often in a way that is unfair or too simple
Trang's sweeping generalization that all teenagers dislike school upset her students.
sweeping generalization + that-clause for overbroad claims
Making quick generalizations about an entire country after a short visit is rarely fair.
quick generalizations about [topic] — common adjective + noun collocation
The mayor's generalization about people from the north caused anger in the local community.
Kemi's boss rejected her suggestion with the unfair generalization that young workers lack patience.
Dahlia reminded her classmates that broad generalizations often hide important differences between people.
- oversimplification
focuses on leaving out important complexity; often used in discussions of ideas rather than people
- stereotype
specifically about groups of people and carries a strong judgment of prejudice or bias
- sweeping statement
more informal; describes any broad claim made without enough evidence, without the moral weight of 'stereotype'
- nuance
a subtle detail or quality that makes a statement more accurate and less general
- specification
the act of giving exact details rather than broad claims
文法句型
make + a generalization + about + something
a generalization + that + clause
用法筆記
Often carries a negative connotation — the speaker is criticising a statement for being too broad or unfair. The adjectives 'sweeping', 'broad', and 'unfair' are very frequently paired with this sense.
常見錯誤
2. the process of noticing what different specific examples share and forming a bro
the process of noticing what different specific examples share and forming a broad idea or rule from that information
In biology class, students practiced generalization by finding patterns in plant growth data.
practice generalization — verb + noun for learning a skill
Hyun used generalization to turn his bird-watching notes into a useful rule about migration.
use generalization to + infinitive — purpose structure
The research team's analysis relied on careful generalization across hundreds of survey responses.
Generalization is a key tool that helps scientists move from specific data to broader ideas.
Christopher showed strong generalization skills by connecting several small experiments into one theory.
- induction
more technical; the formal term in logic and the philosophy of science
- abstraction
focuses on pulling out the essential features, not necessarily forming a rule
- conceptualization
broader; includes forming the ideas themselves, not just the step of making them general
- specification
moving from a general idea to particular details, the reverse direction
- deduction
reasoning from general principles to specific conclusions, rather than from specifics to general rules
文法句型
generalization + of + data / observations
generalization + from + specific examples + to + broader rules
用法筆記
This sense is uncountable when referring to the general process or method. It is common in academic and scientific writing. Distinguish from sense 1 (SWEEPING STATEMENT): in sense 2, generalization is a neutral or positive reasoning tool, not a criticism.