In tendency

USAGE SUMMARY

"in tendency" is a phrase that can be used in written English.
It is used to refer to a general dominant trend or direction in a particular set of data. For example: "The survey results showed that, in tendency, respondents preferred the new product design to the old one."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

55 human-written examples

In tendency after 18 h incubation at RT, spore prints of mushrooms of Coprinellus domesticus, C. atramentaria, Lacrymaria spec., Paneolus papilionaceus, Pluteus spec. and S. commune (fresh and dry specimens) incubated in natural orientation contained about tenfold more spores than harvests from spores in lids obtained after incubation of reversed mushrooms (Table 1).

AMB Express

In tendency, the same pattern was observed for joint destruction (Χ = 13.456; P = 0.009, Figure  2C).

Arthritis Research and Therapy

I realise, when I can bear to think about it, that all my hobbies are pornographic in tendency.

The Guardian

And Dianamania bore several clear affinities to the excesses described in (for example) Norman Cohn's "The Pursuit of the Millennium": it involved mass emotion; it exalted a personage of low cultural level; it was self-flagellatory in tendency; and it was very close to violence.

The New Yorker

Surface ground ecological damages would have a self-restoration in tendency under the natural force role.

International Journal of Coal Science & Technology

Marsh noted, "Unfortunately, the evidence is conflicting in tendency, and sometimes equivocal in interpretation" (Marsh 1864).

Forest Ecosystems

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

5 human-written examples

She creatively uses the travel book's discursive form, its built-in tendency toward the random.

The New Yorker

In short, the present surplus is much smaller than it looks, and it has a powerful built-in tendency to shrink even more.

The Economist

And this, he argues, would be a theory of teleology — a preprogrammed or built-in tendency in the universe toward the particular goal of fulfilling the possibilities of mentality.

The New Yorker

Thanks to low fares and slick marketing, the flights get filled; and thanks to lean staffing and the absence of frills, operating costs are low enough to overcome the disadvantage of having to have more flights than with a hub system.The big hub airports of the mainstream airlines have a built-in tendency to aggravate delays in several ways.

The Economist

And sufficientarianism also has a built-in tendency to equality.

SEP

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "in tendency", ensure it's followed by a verb or noun that clarifies the direction or inclination being described. For instance, "In tendency, the data suggests..." or "There's a tendency towards...".

Common error

Avoid using "in tendency" when you want to express a definitive conclusion. It indicates a general trend, not an absolute certainty. If the evidence strongly supports a fact, use words like "certainly", "definitely", or "undoubtedly" instead.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "in tendency" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb or clause to indicate a general direction, inclination, or trend. Ludwig AI confirms its usage to describe a dominant trend in data.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

78%

News & Media

12%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "in tendency" serves as a qualifier, denoting a general trend or inclination rather than a definitive assertion. Grammatically correct and commonly used, especially in formal and scientific contexts, as confirmed by Ludwig, it signifies that a statement represents a general pattern. While not interchangeable with terms like "always" or "on average", alternatives such as "inclined to" or "leaning towards" can be used depending on the context. Ludwig AI highlights its prevalence in describing data trends, emphasizing the importance of using it to avoid overstatement. Remember to avoid using this phrase when you mean to express something with certainty.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Having an inclination towards

More formal and explicitly states the presence of an inclination.

Leaning towards

Suggests a tentative or slight inclination, not a definite commitment.

Inclined to

Focuses on the disposition or leaning towards something, slightly emphasizing the subject's role.

Disposed to

Suggests a natural inclination or willingness, often in a passive sense.

Prone to

Highlights a susceptibility or vulnerability to something, often negative.

Showing a propensity for

Formal and emphasizes a natural inclination or tendency.

With a proclivity for

Emphasizes a natural or habitual inclination, suggesting a stronger preference.

Trending towards

Specifically indicates a direction of change or development over time.

With a bias toward

Indicates a preference or prejudice in a particular direction.

Moving towards

Similar to trending, but can also suggest a physical movement or progression.

FAQs

How can I use "in tendency" in a sentence?

Use "in tendency" to describe a general pattern or direction. For instance, "The results, "in tendency", point towards an increase in customer satisfaction."

What are some alternatives to "in tendency"?

You can use alternatives like "inclined to", "leaning towards", or "trending towards" depending on the context.

Is "in tendency" interchangeable with "always"?

No, "in tendency" indicates a general direction or inclination, while "always" implies a constant and unchanging state. They are not interchangeable. For example, saying something is "in tendency" is different than saying it "always" occurs.

What's the difference between "in tendency" and "on average"?

"In tendency" suggests a direction or inclination that might not be uniform across all cases, whereas "on average" refers to a calculated mean value. "On average" provides a numerical summary, while "in tendency" describes a qualitative trend.