a specific observation

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a specific observation" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to a particular instance or detail that has been noted or perceived in a given context. Example: "In the study, we made a specific observation regarding the behavior of the subjects under stress."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

19 human-written examples

Data are missing at random, given all we have observed about a person, the risk of missing a specific observation is independent of the actual value of that observation.

BMC Psychiatry

Now suppose that, given all we have observed about a person, the risk of missing a specific observation is independent of the actual value of that observation (eg, the risk that data is missing is independent of the values of the unobserved variables, given the observed variables), then we will say that the data are MAR.

Clinical Epidemiology

Third, through the modulation of the sensor's field of view (FOV) by Fresnel lens, the sensor can be achieved on a specific observation area in an optical multiplexing pattern.

EURASIP Journal on Advances in Signal Processing

The PWE burst data are the five components of continuous electric-field and magnetic-field waveform data written into the flash memory of the MDR during a specific observation time period via the mission network under the control of the PWE.

Earth, Planets and Space

A specific observation shows that this phenomenon remained fundamentally unchanged after the Expansion, yet the odds ratio between men and women with regard to higher education opportunities decreases after The Expansion in both rural and nonrural areas with a higher rate of decrease in the former than in the latter.

The Journal of Chinese Sociology

A specific observation is assigned to its 'discrete class' on the basis the minimum distance to the k centroid values (average values for the studied variables, in this case the clustering variable is only one and corresponds to the expression level of the correspondent gene) relative to the best k-means cluster solution.

Plosone

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

41 human-written examples

European Commission spokesman Jakub Adamowicz said the £1.7bn sum was "not coming out of nowhere" and was based on "a very specific observation of the regulations".

BBC

Considering different biological end points, radiation induced non-targeted response in vivo appears to be a tissue specific observation.

British Journal of Cancer

Most of the learning points were mentioned by both ISS and OSS participants, for example communication, cooperation, teamwork, situations with unclear responsibility, feedback, a lack of general observation forms and a lack of specific observation forms, for example, postpartum haemorrhage.

BMJ Open

A few specific observations have led investigators to focus on adolescence as a particularly relevant exposure window with regard to breast carcinogenesis; studies of atomic bomb survivors have shown that the carcinogenic effect of ionizing radiation decreases with age of exposure, with the greatest increases in risk among women younger than 20 years at the time of the bombings [ 11].

Breast Cancer Research

However, as preliminary study, we aims at a specific context observation only.

Journal of Software Engineering Research and Development

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing scientific reports, use "a specific observation" to emphasize a key finding that supports your hypothesis.

Common error

Avoid drawing broad conclusions based on just "a specific observation". Ensure your findings are supported by a larger dataset or multiple lines of evidence.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a specific observation" functions as a noun phrase, often serving as the subject or object of a sentence. It's used to denote a particular instance or finding that has been noted, as shown in Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

75%

News & Media

15%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Social Media

0%

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "a specific observation" is a grammatically sound and useful expression, typically employed in neutral to formal settings like science, news, and business. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage and provides examples across diverse contexts. While alternatives exist, they vary in semantic similarity. When using this phrase, it's best to ground your conclusions on more than just a single observation to avoid overgeneralization.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a particular instance

Replaces "observation" with "instance", focusing on a single occurrence.

a concrete finding

Substitutes "observation" with "finding", highlighting a tangible result.

a precise detail

Emphasizes accuracy and specificity using "detail" instead of "observation".

a noteworthy point

Replaces the scientific term with more generic "point" and "noteworthy", highlighting its significance.

a distinct fact

Emphasizes the clarity and separateness of the observation by referring to it as a "fact".

a clear indication

Highlights that the observation functions as a sign or signal by using "indication".

a special case

Emphasizes uniqueness by substituting observation with case and specific with special.

a remarkable note

Focuses on the noteworthiness and impact of the observation by using the words "remarkable" and "note".

an isolated event

Emphasizes the singular and possibly non-recurring nature of the observation.

a singular instance

Combines the ideas of uniqueness and occurrence in a formal manner.

FAQs

How can I use "a specific observation" in a sentence?

You can use "a specific observation" to highlight a particular finding or detail, such as "A specific observation in our study showed a correlation between sleep patterns and academic performance".

What's a good alternative to "a specific observation"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives like "a particular instance", "a concrete finding", or "a precise detail".

Is it better to say "a specific observation" or "a general observation"?

It depends on what you want to emphasize. Use "a specific observation" when you want to highlight a particular instance. Use "a general observation" when you want to refer to a common or widespread phenomenon.

What does it mean when data is 'missing at random' in relation to "a specific observation"?

When data is 'missing at random' (MAR), the probability of missing "a specific observation" depends only on the observed data and not on the unobserved values themselves. This is a key assumption in handling missing data.