1. In written work generalisations are very useful because they can be used to present complex ideas or data in a simple form which is easy to understand and remember:
Large companies can offer better career opportunities.
Language is an important means of communication.
Compare the statements on the data in the table below.
a) 56.2% of British smokers are women.
b) The majority of British smokers are women.
UK smokers by gender
Men      Women
43.8%    56.2%
The first sentence is more accurate, but the second, which contains a generalisation, is easie
r to understand. However, using generalisations does involve a loss of precision, so the writer must judge when they can be used safely, and when it is better to give the full data.
2. There are two ways of making a generalisation:
a) Using the plural: Computers are useful machines.
reaction to a book or an article
b) Using the singular + definite article: The computer is a useful machine. (less common/more formal)
It is better to avoid absolute phrases such as cats are cleverer than dogs. Instead use more cautious phrases such as cats tend to be cleverer than dogs or most cats are more intelligent than dogs.
Write generalisations on the following topics.
a) child/noise Example: Children are often noisy.
b) flowers/presents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
c) city/pollution . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
d) fresh fruit/health . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
e) television/important . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
3. Read the following text and underline the generalisations.
Li Pang is a Chinese student studying architecture in Manchester. He enjoys the style of teaching as well as the cosmopolitan lifestyle the city provides. Many international students attend British universities. Most welcome the chance to meet classmates from all over the
world, and all are pleased to have the chance to improve their English. When he goes home to Shanghai, Li Pang will have a network of international contacts to support his future career.
4. Overgeneralising
This means making statements which are too simple or inaccurate. For example, using income figures from the table below, a writer might claim:
People were much richer in 1999 than 20 years earlier.
This ignores inflation over the period. It is more accurate to say:
Average incomes in 1999 were nearly four times higher than in 1979.
Changes in key economic indicators in the UK, 1979–1999
Britain              1979    1989    1999
Inflation rate          13.4%  7.8%      3.4%
Interest rate          12%    13.7%    5.5%
Unemployment      4.1%    6.1%      4.6%
Average income    £5,000    £11,700    £19,000
Average house price  £19,800  £61,500    £68,300
Each of the following contain overgeneralisation. Rewrite them more accurately.
a) Between 1979 and 1999, the worst period for unemployment was 1989.
b) Inflation fell steadily for 20 years after 1979.
c) There was a dramatic rise in house prices in these two decades.
d) Interest rates peaked in 1989.
5. Read the text on ‘Dreams’ and write five generalisations using the data.
A recent survey on dreams, completed by over 10,000 people, found that 68% of all dreams came into the‘anxiety’ category. Being chased was the most common dream, recorded by 72%. Dreams about falling (which signify insecurity) are also very common, being recorded by 70%.
55% have dreamed about relatives and friends who have died. Many people believe that dreams can foretell the future, but only 42% have experienced this type. 28% of those surveyed have dreams about food, which seem to occur during periods of weight watching, but 23% have been pleased by dreams of finding money.

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