sweeping claims

USAGE SUMMARY

"sweeping claims" is correct and usable in written English.
It is usually used to describe a statement or claim that seems to be exaggeratedly broad and is difficult to prove. For example: The leader's speech was full of sweeping claims that were hard to verify.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

"They [Coleman attorneys] make sweeping claims without any detail," Elias said.

The Guardian

This pairing has provided grounds for sweeping claims for damages whenever a company's share price moves abruptly.

The Economist

Still, his message was aimed at China, which has asserted sweeping claims over the South China Sea, touching off disputes with several other countries that border the sea.

The New York Times

The dreams are not only Joy's personal dreams, you see, but also the Chinese government's broad, sweeping claims that the Great Leap Forward will turn China into a paradise.

The New York Times - Books

For Justice Anthony Kennedy in particular, the court's swing voter, this argument may be far more appealing than upholding Sections 4b and 5 based on sweeping claims about historical discrimination, or else striking down that landmark piece of legislation.

The New York Times

Her ruling was celebrated by civil liberties advocates as an unexpected victory for individual rights in an era in which courts have largely acquiesced to sweeping claims of national security powers by the government.

The New York Times

It also, bizarrely, claims an interest in the genes the three researchers have identified as non-essential, as well as the essential ones.To the extent that sweeping claims may stifle innovation, these are certainly things that need to be considered.

The Economist

But US president Barack Obama responded by warning that Beijing must abide by an international tribunal ruling that China's sweeping claims to the South China Sea had no legal basis.

The Guardian

While some of the sweeping claims he makes in "On Being Born" may give pause -- is the development of an embryo into a rational being really "the enigma of enigmas, the central problem for biology for all time"?

The New York Times - Books

But while sweeping claims are made for these treatments, the scientific evidence for them often lags far behind: studies and clinical trials, when they exist at all, can be shoddy in design and too small to yield reliable insights.

The New York Times - Health

I am no enthusiast for sweeping claims of unilateral executive authority, as I made clear during the debt ceiling crisis last summer, when I found nothing akin to a "recess borrowing clause" to authorize the unilateral action some had urged upon the president.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the phrase "sweeping claims", ensure you provide context or evidence to support why the claims are considered sweeping, such as lack of detail or broad generalisations.

Common error

Avoid using "sweeping claims" as a standalone criticism. Always specify what makes the claims sweeping, and ideally, provide counter-evidence or alternative interpretations to show why they are questionable.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "sweeping claims" functions as a noun phrase where the adjective "sweeping" modifies the noun "claims". As Ludwig AI underlines, it describes claims that are broad, extensive, or general in nature, often implying a lack of specific supporting evidence.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Science

20%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Wiki

2%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "sweeping claims" is a common and grammatically sound phrase used to describe broad, often unsubstantiated assertions. As Ludwig AI confirms, it appears frequently in news, science, and formal business contexts. When using this phrase, as seen in the provided examples, it's crucial to provide context explaining why the claims are considered sweeping. Alternatives such as "broad assertions" or "exaggerated statements" can be used to vary your language, but it is important to remain consistent with the field of "aiResponseStatus" and its explanation.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

broad assertions

Replaces "claims" with "assertions", emphasizing a confident and forceful statement but maintains the sense of wide scope.

exaggerated statements

Focuses on the exaggeration aspect of the claims, implying they are overstated or inflated.

unsubstantiated allegations

Highlights the lack of evidence supporting the claims, adding a layer of doubt or skepticism.

extensive allegations

This focuses on the breadth of allegations, rather than questioning their validity.

overreaching claims

This conveys that the claims are excessive or go beyond what is justified.

grand pronouncements

Replaces claims with a more formal "pronouncements", suggesting a high degree of certainty, possibly unwarranted.

wholesale assertions

Implies the claims are made on a large scale or without discrimination.

blanket statements

Emphasizes the broad and undifferentiated nature of the claims.

generalised assertions

This focuses on the lack of specificity of the claims.

categorical pronouncements

This highlights the absolute and unconditional nature of the claims.

FAQs

What does "sweeping claims" mean?

The phrase "sweeping claims" refers to broad statements or assertions that lack specific details or evidence. These claims often cover a wide range of subjects or imply significant impacts without providing sufficient support.

How can I use "sweeping claims" in a sentence?

You can use "sweeping claims" to describe assertions that are overly broad or generalized. For example, "The politician made sweeping claims about the economy's recovery, but provided no data to back them up."

What are some alternatives to "sweeping claims"?

Alternatives to "sweeping claims" include "broad assertions", "exaggerated statements", or "unsubstantiated allegations", depending on the specific context.

When is it appropriate to use the term "sweeping claims"?

It's appropriate to use "sweeping claims" when you want to criticize or question statements that are too general, lack supporting evidence, or seem exaggerated. It implies a need for more specific and verifiable information.