Glittering Generality
Category: Loaded Language
What is it?
Glittering generalities are vague words and phrases that have strong positive emotional appeal but convey little concrete meaning. They evoke approval without providing specific information, making them difficult to analyze or critique.
Examples
'Our product represents excellence, quality, and innovation.'
'We stand for freedom, progress, and the American way.'
How to Avoid This
Be specific about what you mean rather than relying on abstract, emotionally appealing terms. Provide concrete details and examples to support your claims.
How to Counter This
Ask for specifics: 'What exactly do you mean by those terms? Can you provide specific examples or details of how these qualities are demonstrated?'