This article is classified "Real"
A sweeping statement is a statement that makes a wide-ranging and complete
comment about something, or more often, everything. Unfortunately, it is
very common for people to make these sorts of statements when they, in fact,
are talking about minor groups rather than "everybody" (this being a word
they could use).
To define the properties of a sweeping statement more precisely: a
"sweeping statement" will contain words such as "everybody", "everything",
"nobody" or "nothing" (essentially words of totality, which leave nothing,
or very little, out), and will therefore be very easy to disprove, if you
can find just one example where it is incorrect.
An example of this is when somebody might claim, "Everybody's drinking new
Sugar-Sip!" You might examine this sentence and observe that, while you
are packed in a room with the entire population of the universe [1], you
happen to notice that Mr. Bloggs in the corner is picking at the wallpaper
and drinking plain water. In that instance you can easily disprove the
statement by the simple fact that not everybody is drinking "Sugar-Sip",
whatever the hell it's supposed to be.
Disproving statements such as these is the occupation of the pedant, and
should be used sparingly if you do not wish to aggravate the person to which
you are talking [2]. If, however, you are in the company of somebody who
makes many statements like this, a pedantic attitude may in fact begin to
coax them away from their habit. It is always a fantastic way to win an
argument.
[1] Well, okay, you might be on your own, or you just invited a delegation
of aliens, some imaginary friends, a few actual friends, or a
combination of these, for a taste-testing session. The point is not to
take examples too literally.
[2] If indeed, you are talking to anyone in particular.