Grammar fix
a sweeping statement
overgeneralisation
a comment or claim that is too general and does not consider all the facts or exceptions; an overgeneralisation.
collocationC1occasional
Hear it in context
Notice where the phrase sounds natural.
Saying that all politicians are dishonest is a sweeping statement.
I try to avoid making sweeping statements in discussions, because it's important to recognise that there are always exceptions.
Fix the pattern
One small grammar move makes it sound right.
Not: Don't do sweeping statements about people.
Say: Don't make sweeping statements about people.
You MAKE a statement, never 'do'.
Which sounds natural?
Tap the one a native speaker would say.
The idiom names the fault — a too-broad claim that ignores exceptions.
Build natural chunks
Words that usually travel with it.
make a sweeping statement/generalisation
- make
- generalisation
- broad
- about