a relative indication

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a relative indication" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to a suggestion or sign that is dependent on or compared to something else. Example: "The data provided serves as a relative indication of the market trends we can expect in the coming months."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

19 human-written examples

The output of these indices is a relative indication of the probability of fire ignition.

Environmental Modelling and Software

This practice only gives a relative indication and qualitative assessment of the probes' tissue distribution.

EJNMMI Research

The magnitude of DI value is only a relative indication of the difference between the two images.

EURASIP Journal on Embedded Systems

However, longer operative time or increased blood loss is also a relative indication of conversion even if the bleeding is controlled properly.

Surgical Case Reports

MRE is an important measure since both RMSE and ME do not provide a relative indication in reference to the actual data.

Applied Water Science

ESD is a relative indication for T1a-MM/T1b-SM1 permeation without lymph node or distant metastases, depending on size and location for complete tumor extraction.

Surgical Case Reports

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

41 human-written examples

Thus, although HCMV IE1 promoter activity underestimated the total number of infected macrophages, it gave a good relative indication of infection in different populations, and this was increased by antibody.

Plosone

If anti-reflux medications are included as a relative contra-indication, these numbers rise to 274 (77%) of all NSAID users, with 274 (84%) of COX-2 inhibitor users, and 121 (69%) of those using ns-NSAIDs, with 1819 (45%) of the population with a relative contra-indication.

BMC Family Practice

Because a history of malignancy can be a relative contra-indication for TNFi therapy, patients who are ultimately treated with a TNFi are likely to have a low incidence of malignancy in their pre-TNFi person years.

BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders

The level of evidence is such that, in many countries, clinical practice guidelines advocate the use of [F]FDG-PET for characterising pulmonary nodules when there is a relative contra-indication for needle biopsy or when biopsy results are indeterminate.

Cancer Imaging

Currently, there is strong evidence for [F]FDG-PET in characterisation of pulmonary nodules when there is a relative contra-indication for needle biopsy or when biopsy results are indeterminate, and for staging patients with non-small cell lung cancer without enlarged mediastinal lymph nodes on computed tomography (CT).

Cancer Imaging

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a relative indication", ensure the context clearly establishes what the indication is relative to. This clarifies the comparison and avoids ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid presenting "a relative indication" as definitive proof or absolute truth. Emphasize its comparative and potentially inexact nature.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a relative indication" functions primarily as a noun phrase that modifies a verb, providing a limited sense of comparison rather than absolute certainty. It is used to present something as suggestive but not conclusive, supported by Ludwig AI indicating the phrase as grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

100%

Less common in

News & Media

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a relative indication" is a noun phrase used to express a sign or measure that is dependent on comparison rather than absolute certainty. According to Ludwig AI, this phrase is grammatically correct and primarily found in scientific contexts. While it is a useful term for qualifying statements, it’s essential to provide clear context to avoid ambiguity. Alternatives like "a comparative measure" or "an approximate estimation" can be used depending on the specific shade of meaning you wish to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a comparative measure

Emphasizes the act of comparing something to a standard.

a proportional sign

Highlights a sign that corresponds in size or degree.

an approximate estimation

Focuses on providing an estimate that is not exact but close enough.

a contextual clue

Highlights that the indication depends on the surrounding situation.

a rough guide

Stresses the inexact nature of the indication.

a suggestive hint

Implies a subtle indication that requires interpretation.

a comparative assessment

Focuses on the evaluation of something in relation to something else.

a general idea

Provides an overall sense without specific details.

an estimated value

Implies that the value is calculated rather than precisely measured.

a partial view

Suggests that the indication only shows a portion of the whole picture.

FAQs

How can I use "a relative indication" in a sentence?

Use "a relative indication" to suggest something is a sign or measure dependent on a comparison. For instance, "The increase in sales is "a relative indication" of the marketing campaign's success compared to last year".

What's the difference between "a relative indication" and "an absolute indication"?

"A relative indication" is a sign or measure that is dependent on a comparison, while "an absolute indication" is a definitive and independent sign.

What can I say instead of "a relative indication"?

You can use alternatives like "a comparative measure", "an approximate estimation", or "a contextual clue" depending on the context.

Is it appropriate to use "a relative indication" in formal writing?

Yes, "a relative indication" is appropriate for formal writing, especially in scientific or academic contexts where comparisons and qualified statements are common.