a healthy control

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a healthy control" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in contexts related to research, medical studies, or comparisons where a healthy individual or group is used as a standard for comparison against a group with a specific condition. Example: "In the study, we compared the results of the patients with diabetes to those of a healthy control group to assess the impact of the treatment."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Following Fallon's example, suppose we were to find that psychopaths, on average, show reduced activity in a particular brain region compared with a healthy control group.

The Guardian

A healthy control group was included (n= 15).

Intensive Care Medicine Experimental

"I asked a healthy control to imagine playing tennis.

BBC

Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were collected from a healthy control cohort (n = 7) and pooled.

Intensive Care Medicine Experimental

Study sample comprised of three groups: migraineurs, TTH subjects as well as a healthy control group.

The Journal of Headache and Pain

Patients were divided into two groups: a healthy control and a malignancy group.

Insights into Imaging

In the short-time group, 5 of the studies had a healthy control group.

International Journal of Implant Dentistry

However, the study did not include a healthy control group or placebo-treated patients.

The Journal of Headache and Pain

A healthy control group of 18 adults was used for comparison.

Annals of Intensive Care

In addition, a healthy control sample (N = 43) was also studied for comparison.

Schizophrenia Research

Participants: Forty subjects, a patient group (20) and a healthy control group (20).

Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing research methodology, clearly define how the "a healthy control" group was selected and matched to the experimental group to ensure the validity of the comparison.

Common error

Avoid simply stating that there was "a healthy control" group without specifying the criteria used to match them with the experimental group (e.g., age, sex, lifestyle factors). Failing to do so can weaken the study's conclusions.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a healthy control" functions primarily as a noun phrase, often acting as a subject or object within a sentence. It identifies a specific group used for comparison in studies. As shown in Ludwig, it is used to establish a baseline against which other groups are measured.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

96%

News & Media

3%

Formal & Business

1%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a healthy control" is a common and grammatically correct phrase primarily used within scientific and research contexts. It denotes a standard comparison group of healthy individuals. Ludwig's analysis indicates its function as a noun phrase that is intended to establish a baseline in research. As supported by Ludwig AI, its register is formal and scientific. To ensure clarity and credibility in your research, define the characteristics of the control group. When using the term, consider alternatives like "normal control group" or "healthy comparison group" for variety. Always avoid the common error of inadequate description of the matching criteria between the study group and the "a healthy control" group.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

control group of healthy individuals

Reorders the phrase to emphasize the group aspect and specifies individuals.

healthy comparison group

Replaces "control" with "comparison" to highlight the purpose of the group.

normal control group

Substitutes "healthy" with "normal" to indicate a standard or typical state.

control cohort of healthy subjects

Uses "cohort" and "subjects" for a more formal, research-oriented tone.

disease-free control group

Specifies the absence of disease in the control group for clarity.

unaffected control group

Highlights that the group is not affected by the condition being studied.

healthy reference group

Replaces "control" with "reference" to underscore its role as a benchmark.

standard control group

Uses "standard" to convey the idea of a conventional or typical control.

control sample of healthy participants

Emphasizes the sampling aspect and uses "participants" for people involved in the research.

baseline comparison group of healthy individuals

Adds "baseline" to indicate the initial state used for comparison.

FAQs

How is "a healthy control" used in research studies?

"A healthy control" is a group of individuals without the condition under study, used as a baseline for comparison to assess the effects of a treatment or condition on the experimental group. It helps researchers determine whether observed changes are due to the intervention or other factors.

What characteristics are important when selecting "a healthy control" group?

Key characteristics include age, sex, and other relevant demographic or lifestyle factors that could influence the outcome being measured. Matching these characteristics between the "a healthy control" and experimental groups minimizes confounding variables.

What's the difference between "a healthy control" and a placebo group?

"A healthy control" is a group without the condition being studied, while a placebo group receives an inactive treatment to control for the psychological effects of receiving treatment. Both serve as comparisons, but in different ways.

What are some alternatives to "a healthy control"?

You can use alternatives like "normal control group", "healthy comparison group", or "disease-free control group" depending on the context.