generalize

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "generalize" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to making a general statement based on limited information. For example, "I can't generalize about all officers, as I haven't met them all."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

One can generalize this example to all generic state-space processes with indeterministic laws of developments, namely Markov processes.

SEP

This theoretical language consists of terms invented in order to better organize, generalize, and make connections among the assertions and generalizations made in the observation language.

SEP

Once we see that temperance, courage, and other generally recognized characteristics are mean states, we are in a position to generalize and to identify other mean states as virtues, even though they are not qualities for which we have a name.

SEP

"Cartagena women are respectable, and you cannot generalize as if the city were filled with prostitutes," said Campo Elias Terán, the mayor, in a radio interview.

The Economist

Generalize this process, and the world would teem with more and more people leading less and less satisfying lives, until eventually the happiness of each individual would start to approach nil.

The New York Times

Brighouse and Fleurbaey (2010) generalize this result.

SEP

The most striking distinction is between those who rely on a priori reasoning and those who generalize from empirical facts in a social scientific fashion.

SEP

For example, as Peirce came to extend and generalize his notion of abduction, abduction became defined as inference to and provisional acceptance of an explanatory hypothesis for the purpose of testing it.

SEP

For example, Stanley & Wise (1983) argue that only qualitative methods that accept women's reports of their experiences in their own terms, refusing to generalize, can uphold feminist values of respecting differences among women and avoiding the replication of power differences between researchers and research subjects.

SEP

On the other hand, the failure of the compactness theorem to generalize to L ω1,ω) in any useful fashion is a severe drawback as far as applications are concerned.

SEP

(The 'Nash' here refers to John Nash, the Nobel Laureate mathematician who in Nash (1950) did most to extend and generalize von Neumann & Morgenstern's pioneering work).

SEP

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "generalize", ensure you have sufficient evidence to support your broader claims to avoid inaccuracies.

Common error

Be careful not to "generalize" based on limited or biased samples, as this can lead to inaccurate or unfair conclusions. Always consider the diversity within a group before making sweeping statements.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "generalize" is a verb. Ludwig AI confirms its use in indicating the act of forming a broad conclusion or applying a specific observation to a wider context. Examples demonstrate its role in academic, news, and everyday communication.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

50%

News & Media

25%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Reference

5%

Wiki

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "generalize" functions as a verb meaning to draw a broad conclusion from specific instances. Ludwig AI affirms its correct usage in various contexts, from academic and scientific discussions to news and everyday conversations. While very common, it's crucial to avoid overgeneralizations based on insufficient evidence. Related phrases include "extrapolate", "infer", and "draw a conclusion". Remember to use "generalize" thoughtfully to ensure accuracy and avoid misleading claims.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

extrapolate from specific instances

Emphasizes extending known information to predict or infer broader trends.

infer a general principle

Highlights the process of deriving a broad principle from specific instances.

formulate a generalization

Focuses on the creation of a general rule or principle.

draw a broad conclusion

Shifts from a specific action to the result of making a general statement.

derive a universal rule

Focuses on creating a rule that applies in all cases.

make sweeping statements

Implies making broad statements that might lack specific evidence.

extend the application

Highlights expanding the use of something to new areas.

make a broad assumption

Suggests making a general assumption that might not be entirely accurate.

form a general idea

Suggests creating a basic or overall concept.

broaden the scope

Indicates widening the range or extent of something.

FAQs

How can I use "generalize" in a sentence?

You can use "generalize" to describe the act of making a broad statement or drawing a general conclusion from specific cases. For instance, "It's not fair to "generalize" about an entire group based on the actions of a few individuals."

What does it mean to "generalize"?

To "generalize" means to infer or conclude something broad or universal from particular instances or observations.

What are some alternatives to "generalize"?

You can use alternatives like "extrapolate", "infer", or "draw a conclusion" depending on the context.

When is it inappropriate to "generalize"?

It is inappropriate to "generalize" when there is insufficient evidence, when the sample is biased, or when the characteristics of a group are diverse and not easily categorized.