AbstractIt is shown that the zero‐field suscetpibility χ of many ferromagnets may be described with high accuracy by a modified power law (generalized Curie‐Weiss law) χT ∼ [(T – TC)/T]−γc in the whole paramagnetic regime, where γc is the critical susceptibility exponent. In contrast, the conventional power law χTC ∼ [(T – TC)/TC]−γc holds only for the very small critical regime. Application of the scaling variable (T – TC)/T, which is non‐linear in T, to other physical situations (spin glasses, percolation) is discussed. Altogether the temperature range where scaling ideas are useful appears to be much wider than generally expected.