Making Generalizations A generalization is a broad statement about a group of people or things. It states something they have in common. Be careful! Make sure your generalization is valid. Valid means true. It is supported by facts. - It agrees with what you already know about the topic. It uses logic and reasoning. It is proven with several examples. Watch for signal words: some, most, might, sometimes, often, probably, typically, many, rarely, few. Be careful! Make sure your generalization is not fauity. Faulty means false. - It is not supported by facts. Watch for the key words: pone, all, always, Dever, everyone, nobody. 9​