a median of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a median of" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used in statistical contexts to refer to the middle value in a set of data when it is arranged in order. Example: "The study found a median of 50 participants per group, indicating a balanced distribution."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

A) Median of species median growth rates (mm · y−1).

Forest Ecosystems

They included Coney Island, with a median of $14,908.

The New York Times

Women had a median of four male sex partners.

The New York Times

After a median of 15 years of follow-up, none of the 28 has developed cancer.

The New York Times - Health

The group getting the test began chemotherapy a median of about five months earlier.

The New York Times

He captured a median of 53% after his main opponent, Paul Tsongas, dropped out.

The Guardian - Opinion

They all took a median of about 80% of the vote after becoming the presumptive nominee.

The Guardian - Opinion

Those who were recruited had a median of 10 partners in the previous 90 days.

The Guardian

That compares with a median of $85,400 for all of Long Island.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

2 human-written examples

Their ages ranged from 53 to 75 years with a median of 63.4.

The New York Times

Prices bottomed out at a median of $2,000 for the 2009 and 2010 Super Bowls.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a median of", ensure that the data set is appropriate for median analysis. Median is best used when the data has outliers or is not normally distributed.

Common error

Avoid using "a median of" interchangeably with "a mean of". Median represents the middle value, while mean is the average. Using the wrong term can misrepresent the data.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a median of" functions as a quantifier in statistical contexts. It specifies the middle value of a dataset. As Ludwig AI states, it is frequently used in both scientific and news contexts to provide a measure of central tendency that is less sensitive to outliers than the mean.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

48%

News & Media

43%

Formal & Business

9%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a median of" is a statistically significant phrase used to indicate the central value of a dataset, especially when the data contains outliers. Ludwig AI confirms its common usage in scientific and news contexts. While alternatives like "an average of" exist, the median is preferred for its robustness against extreme values. It's crucial to differentiate between median and mean to avoid misrepresenting data. The register ranges from neutral to formal, depending on the context, but is generally appropriate for academic, scientific, and journalistic writing. Using the median correctly is essential for accurate statistical communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

an average of

Replaces the median with the arithmetic mean, suitable when a precise central value is needed and the data is normally distributed.

a typical value of

Offers a more general sense of central tendency, useful in less formal contexts where precision is not paramount.

a midpoint of

Highlights the central position in a range, emphasizing the equal distance to the extremes rather than the statistical median.

a central value of

Focuses on the centrality but may not specify the method of calculation (mean, median, or mode).

a middle value of

Similar to 'midpoint', but applicable in contexts where ordering is relevant, such as ranked data.

approximately

Introduces an estimation, appropriate when an exact figure is not required or available.

around

Indicates an approximate value in a more casual way, best used in informal writing or speech.

in the vicinity of

Suggests a value within a certain range, useful when precision is less important than conveying a general size or quantity.

close to

Implies nearness to a specific value, suitable when comparing values and highlighting proximity.

roughly

Indicates a general approximation, useful when detailed accuracy is not necessary.

FAQs

When is it appropriate to use "a median of"?

Use "a median of" when describing the middle value in a data set, especially when the data has outliers or isn't normally distributed. It's useful for representing typical values that aren't skewed by extreme values.

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

"A median of" refers to the middle value in a dataset, while "a mean of" (or average) is calculated by summing all values and dividing by the number of values. The median is less sensitive to outliers than the mean.

Are there alternatives to using "a median of" in a sentence?

Yes, you can use alternatives like "an average of", "a typical value of", or "a midpoint of", depending on the specific context and the nuance you want to convey.

How does the presence of outliers affect the use of "a median of"?

The median is particularly useful when outliers are present because it isn't influenced by extreme values. This makes "a median of" a more robust measure of central tendency compared to the mean in such cases.