Logical people keep their minds clear when they generalize and don't mix up abstract and concrete, particular and general, singular and plural.
According to The Cambridge Dictionary, the meaning of generalization is a written or spoken statement in which you say or write that something is true all of the time when it is only true some of the time. Making generalizations can be dangerous, but using generalizations phrases in essays or in conversation with your customers can be really useful.Cambridge dictionary
- It is correct to say: "The average person in England is tall," but "The average population in England is tall" is a ridiculous statement.
- It is not so ridiculous, but it is confusing and clumsy when you are contrasting the white man and the black man in an argument, to speak of the black in one half of the sentence and white men in the other, and to begin grandly about "man" and tail off into the pronoun "them".
- The impersonal pronoun "one" demands consistent treatment too. If you start with it you have to go on with it, grimly, as a rule, for it is an awkward little word, ashamed of its conspicuousness and forever trying to slip out of the sentence. It is generally wiser to use "you," "they," or some other construction.
Some words to identify faulty or invalid generalizations.
Signal words which are invalid:
- All
- Always
- Never
- None
- No-one
- Nobody
- Everyone
- Everybody
A valid generalization is built on:
- Supporting facts
- Several examples
- Post experience
- Logic and reasoning
Faulty Generalization
- Be careful when using the word "all," "none," "no," Everyone," "Nobody," "Always" and "Never". These are clue words that generally show "bad generalizations." "Always" and "Never" are very strong words. "Bad" generalizations may be faulty generalizations.
Sources: http://www.commonenglishphrases.com/2011/09/making-generalizations-in-english/
English Grammar: EBH Joubert