a mean of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a mean of" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use this phrase to refer to a method or channel for doing something (i.e. an avenue of communication or movement). For example, "We found a mean of getting to the destination in time."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

In fact, women reported slightly more sexual partners (a mean of 4.4) than did men (a mean of 4.0).

The New York Times

(a) Mean of novelty.

EPJ Data Science

(a) Mean of the normalized skewness.

EURASIP Journal on Advances in Signal Processing

A mean of three blastocysts was replaced in all groups.

Reproductive BioMedicine Online

A mean of 2.7 different symptoms were reported.

International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental Health

We found a mean of 3.8 EbA practices per farm.

Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment

Patients had neck pain for a mean of 11 years.

The Journal of Pain

There was a mean of 9.7 patients per physician.

Annals of Emergency Medicine

Patients were followed for a mean of 29 months.

HPB

Concomitantly, CO2 concentration increased to a mean of 7.5 ± 5.2 %.

New Zealand Journal of Forestry Science

A mean of these 10 best fits is also included.

EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a mean of", ensure that the context clearly indicates you are referring to an average value calculated from a set of data. Provide the units of measurement for clarity.

Common error

Avoid using "a mean of" when you intend to convey "intending to". The word 'mean' in this context refers to an average and should not be confused with its other meaning related to intention.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a mean of" functions as a prepositional phrase that modifies a noun, indicating the average value within a set of data. Ludwig AI confirms the acceptability of this phrase, as demonstrated in the examples of sexual partners, where women reported "a mean of 4.4" partners.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

86%

News & Media

10%

Formal & Business

4%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "a mean of" is a prepositional phrase primarily used to indicate an average value, especially within scientific and news contexts. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and high frequency. The phrase's function is to quantitatively summarize data. Though alternatives like "an average of" exist, "a mean of" is precise, authoritative and frequently used. It's crucial to distinguish its statistical meaning from other interpretations of 'mean'. In short, when discussing averages, "a mean of" is a reliable and common choice.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

an average of

This alternative directly replaces "mean" with its synonym "average", maintaining the same statistical meaning but using different wording.

a way of

Similar to "a method for", this highlights a path or strategy rather than a numerical calculation.

a method for

This alternative shifts the context from statistical measure to a process or approach, changing the meaning slightly.

a process for

This emphasizes a series of actions or steps rather than a statistical measure.

a form of

This expresses that something is a particular type or instance, altering the original sense.

a channel for

This suggests a medium or pathway, deviating from the statistical connotation of the original phrase.

a system for

This suggests an organized set of procedures or components, distinct from calculating an average.

a vehicle for

Similar to "a channel for", this suggests a means of conveyance or transmission rather than a numerical value.

an instrument of

This implies a tool or device used for a specific purpose, which is conceptually different from "a mean of".

a mechanism for

This implies a technical or functional structure, differing from the statistical application of "a mean of".

FAQs

How do I use "a mean of" in a sentence?

Use "a mean of" to describe the average value in a set of data. For example, "The patients had "a mean of 4.6 hospitalizations"" indicates the average number of hospitalizations for the group of patients.

What can I say instead of "a mean of"?

You can use alternatives like "an average of", depending on the context. These phrases are useful when referring to a central tendency in a dataset.

Is it correct to say "the mean of" or "a mean of"?

Both "the mean of" and "a mean of" can be correct, depending on the context. "The mean of" is typically used when referring to a specific, previously defined set of data. "A mean of" is used when describing a general characteristic or result.

What's the difference between "a mean of" and "a median of"?

"A mean of" refers to the average value (sum of values divided by the number of values), while "a median of" refers to the middle value when the data is ordered. The mean is sensitive to outliers, while the median is more robust.