a statistical certainty

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a statistical certainty" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing probabilities or outcomes that are considered highly likely based on statistical analysis. Example: "Given the overwhelming evidence from the data, we can conclude that the results are a statistical certainty."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

16 human-written examples

Otherwise this changes a statistical certainty into a basic punt.

The Guardian - Money

It is a statistical certainty that someone is typing that very sentence at this exact moment.

The New York Times

Given the sheer volume of teens who have received the vaccine, it is a statistical certainty that some will develop a physical or psychosomatic illness after inoculation.

The Guardian

The new findings show with a statistical certainty of 99.997percentthatatheheffectct also occurs in another type of particle, the B meson, the team says.

The New York Times

"Every day that we delay giving taxi drivers additional protection from assault, it creates a statistical certainty that some number of taxi drivers are going to get assaulted because we failed to protect them," Mr. Lancman said.

The New York Times

But Lampedusa was equally fond of minor writers, and once calculated it to be a statistical certainty that he was the only Italian familiar with the works of Martin Tupper, a 19th-century novelist and versifier.In his mid-50s, Lampedusa began to regret that he had read almost everything and he envied younger friends who still had so much left to discover.

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

43 human-written examples

In addition, the sample correlation coefficient can only be computed across peptides with common identifications between runs (i.e. it does not account for missing data), it does not account for the multivariate nature of LC-MS runs, nor is there any statistical certainty associated with the exclusion of a run.

Bioinformatics

Raccoons have long been widespread in New York City, and there is no way to say with any statistical certainty whether there are more now.

The New York Times

But, the spread of the final fluorescence signals for replicates of each genotype (homozygous mean RFU = 1161 +/- 145; heterozygous mean RFU = 714 +/- 92; homozygous CV = 12.51%, heterozygous CV = 12.91%) still precludes genotyping of individual samples with a 99.7% statistical certainty.

BMC Biotechnology

By using multiple red cell antigen systems and adding additional studies on other blood types (HLA [human leukocyte antigen], red cell enzymes, and plasma proteins), it is possible to state with a high degree of statistical certainty that a particular male is the father.

Encyclopedia Britannica

This threshold is a level of statistical certainty known as "five sigma".

BBC

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a statistical certainty", ensure that your claim is supported by robust data and statistical analysis. Avoid overstating the level of certainty if the data is limited or the analysis is preliminary.

Common error

Avoid using "a statistical certainty" to imply an absolute guarantee. Statistical findings are probabilistic and are subject to some level of uncertainty. Always acknowledge potential limitations.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a statistical certainty" functions as a noun phrase that modifies another noun, indicating a high probability or likelihood of an event based on statistical analysis. As Ludwig AI confirms, this usage is standard in English. Examples illustrate this in various contexts, from gambling odds to earthquake predictions.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

45%

Encyclopedias

5%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Social Media

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a statistical certainty" is a phrase used to express a high probability based on statistical analysis, rather than an absolute guarantee. As Ludwig AI points out, the phrase is grammatically sound and often appears in news and scientific contexts. While useful for conveying a strong likelihood, it's important to avoid overstating the certainty implied, always acknowledging the probabilistic nature of statistical findings. Alternatives like "a high probability" or "a near certainty" can offer a nuanced expression, depending on context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a statistical probability

Highlights the statistical basis for the prediction.

a near certainty

Similar to the original phrase, but slightly less absolute.

a virtual certainty

Indicates that while not absolutely guaranteed, the outcome is extremely probable.

a statistical likelihood

Replaces "certainty" with "likelihood", softening the strength of the claim.

practically certain

Indicates that the event is virtually guaranteed under practical circumstances.

a highly likely event

Directly states that the event is very probable.

a high probability

Emphasizes the probabilistic nature of the outcome.

almost guaranteed

Uses stronger language to indicate a very high level of assurance.

a predictable outcome

Focuses on the predictability of the event, implying a high degree of certainty.

highly predictable

Highlights predictability based on evidence.

FAQs

How is "a statistical certainty" used in a sentence?

Use "a statistical certainty" to indicate a very high probability of an event occurring based on statistical data. For example, "Given the data, a major earthquake in California is "a statistical certainty"".

What are some alternatives to "a statistical certainty"?

You can use phrases like "a high probability", "a near certainty", or "a virtual certainty" depending on the level of emphasis you want to convey.

Is it correct to say something is "a statistical certainty"?

Yes, it's generally correct, but it's crucial to remember that "a statistical certainty" refers to a high degree of probability based on statistical analysis, not an absolute guarantee. A better choice would be to write "with a high degree of "statistical certainty"".

What's the difference between "a statistical certainty" and "a certainty"?

"A certainty" implies an absolute guarantee, while "a statistical certainty" means something is highly probable based on statistical evidence, but not necessarily guaranteed. For example, death is "a certainty", but winning the lottery is just "a statistical possibility".