a case of correlation

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a case of correlation" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing a situation where two or more variables are related or show a statistical relationship, but it does not imply causation. Example: "In the study, we found a case of correlation between increased screen time and lower academic performance among students."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

"Claiming that a decline in non-fatal shark bites is due only to the presence of nets is a case of correlation without causation".

The New Yorker

Or, as Rik Ferguson, admits, this might be a case of correlation not equalling causation.

BBC

This aReadingoriginally appeared on VICE US.

Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

The latter cases were clearly a matter of growth slowdowns leading to higher debt, not the other way around; the former a case of spurious correlation.

The New York Times

It is only Eurovision, and definitely a bad case of correlation ≠ causation, but I've just outlined seven different ways to examine the same objective set of data, which you could then use to make the point you wanted to about membership of the EU.

The Guardian

Links to the first two genes are not highlighted by ExprEssence, because change of expression is anti-correlated as in Figure 1(d), and the link threshold is not exceeded describes a case of perfect anti-correlation yielding a link score of 0).

BMC Systems Biology

In the case of correlation between a redundant variable and a true predictor, the probability of not selecting a redundant variable was 0.95 to 1 for Bayesian model averaging while for stepwise regression it was between 0.7 and 0.9, depending on the effect size of the true predictor.

BMC Medical Research Methodology

These filters provide consistency and control for heterogeneity across datasets for a given gene (or gene pair in case of correlation).

Bioinformatics and Biology Insights

Although we examined only the case of correlation analysis in this paper, subsequent analysis may call for different methods regression analysis, for example.

Large-scale Assessments in Education

Unlike the case of correlation based networks, these networks reveal the dominant clasp of the financial stocks on correlation structure of the market.

Plosone

In case of correlation (r≥0.5) the variables which could most easily be obtained in clinical practice by the physician were retained.

BMC Medical Research Methodology

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a case of correlation", clearly define the variables being correlated and acknowledge any limitations in establishing causality.

Common error

Avoid implying that correlation automatically proves causation. Always investigate potential confounding factors and alternative explanations.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a case of correlation" functions as a noun phrase that identifies a specific situation where a statistical relationship exists between two or more variables. Ludwig provides examples showing its use in various contexts to highlight such relationships.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

67%

News & Media

33%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a case of correlation" is a grammatically sound phrase used to describe situations where two or more variables exhibit a statistical relationship. Ludwig's analysis indicates it's most common in science and news media contexts, emphasizing the importance of not assuming causation. Remember to clearly define variables and avoid implying causation without evidence. Alternatives include "instance of correlation" or "example of correlation", offering subtle shifts in emphasis. Though the phrase is considered correct, it is important to note that the frequency is rare. Therefore it might be worth considering the alternatives if the goal is to connect with a larger audience.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

instance of correlation

Replaces "case" with "instance", maintaining the focus on a specific occurrence of correlation.

example of correlation

Substitutes "case" with "example", emphasizing the illustrative nature of the correlation.

situation involving correlation

Rephrases to focus on a broader "situation" where correlation is present.

correlation scenario

Uses "scenario" to indicate a specific context in which correlation is observed.

correlation in action

Emphasizes the dynamic or active presence of a correlation.

correlation at play

Similar to "correlation in action", highlighting the influence of correlation.

statistical association

Replaces correlation with a more general term for statistical relationships, but lacks precision.

apparent correlation

Highlights that a correlation may exist, but the relationship is not entirely clear and could even be misleading.

correlation without causation

Directly addresses the possibility of a misleading correlation, where no causal relationship is present.

relationship between variables

Offers a broad description of the interrelation between variables without explicitly mentioning correlation.

FAQs

How can I use "a case of correlation" in a sentence?

You can use "a case of correlation" to describe a situation where two or more things appear to be related, but one does not necessarily cause the other. For example, "The study revealed "a case of correlation" between ice cream sales and crime rates, but this doesn't mean ice cream causes crime."

What's the difference between "a case of correlation" and "a case of causation"?

"A case of correlation" indicates a relationship between two variables, while "a case of causation" implies that one variable directly causes the other. It's crucial to distinguish between correlation and causation to avoid drawing incorrect conclusions.

What are some other ways to describe "a case of correlation"?

Instead of "a case of correlation", you might say "instance of correlation", "example of correlation", or "situation involving correlation" depending on the context.

Is it appropriate to use "a case of correlation" in formal writing?

Yes, "a case of correlation" is appropriate for formal writing, especially in academic or scientific contexts where statistical relationships are discussed. Be sure to use it accurately and avoid implying causation without sufficient evidence.