a variance of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a variance of" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate a difference or variation in something, often in contexts such as statistics, art, or general comparisons. Example: "The study revealed a variance of opinions among the participants regarding the new policy."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

That's quite a variance of opinion.

The Guardian

Rowan acknowledged there was a "variance of opinion" in the medical community on this point, "as there would be in the wider community".

The Guardian

Such a divergence is called a "negative split," and a variance of that magnitude is as common as snow in Miami.

The New Yorker

Substituting values in the phase rule (2 + F = 1 + 2) will cause a variance of 1 to be obtained.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Indole, however, showed a variance of 4.45.

Chemistry Central Journal

noise with a variance of σ2.

EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking

The results indicate a variance of orthodontic information.

American Journal of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics

This is approximately 4.33 with a variance of 1.11.

Advances in Difference Equations

A variance of brine composition causes a change of attacked areas in a weld.

Electrochimica Acta

The chi-squared distribution has a variance of (2 n-1)) (Lehmann and Casella 1998).

Earth, Planets and Space

A variance of residual energy: the variance of residual energies of all the sensor nodes.

EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a variance of" in statistical contexts, ensure you specify the units of measurement to provide clarity and avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "a variance of" when you actually intend to refer to the standard deviation. Variance is the square of the standard deviation, so using the terms interchangeably is statistically incorrect.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a variance of" functions primarily as a noun phrase that quantifies the extent of variation or dispersion in a given context. Ludwig examples confirm its usage in scientific and statistical discussions.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

80%

News & Media

10%

Encyclopedias

5%

Less common in

Formal & Business

1%

Reference

1%

Wiki

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "a variance of" is a grammatically sound and frequently used noun phrase, predominantly found in scientific and statistical contexts. As Ludwig AI confirms, it serves to quantify variability or dispersion. It's crucial to differentiate variance from standard deviation, and specifying units of measurement enhances clarity. When precision isn't paramount, alternatives like "a degree of variation" can be considered.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a degree of variation

Emphasizes the extent to which something varies.

a measure of dispersion

Highlights the spread of data points around the mean.

a spectrum of differences

Suggests a range of varying characteristics or opinions.

an extent of diversity

Focuses on the variety present within a group or set.

a level of fluctuation

Highlights the changing nature of something over time.

a range of deviation

Indicates the extent to which something departs from a standard or norm.

a margin of error

Highlights the potential inaccuracy in a measurement or calculation.

a shade of difference

Emphasizes a subtle distinction between things.

an element of inconsistency

Focuses on the lack of uniformity or predictability.

a touch of dissimilarity

Suggests a slight difference between things.

FAQs

How is "a variance of" used in statistical analysis?

In statistical analysis, "a variance of" indicates the measure of how spread out a set of numbers is. It is the average of the squared differences from the mean. For instance, a higher variance suggests greater variability in the data.

What's the difference between "a variance of" and "a standard deviation of"?

While both describe the spread of data, "a variance of" is the average squared deviation from the mean, whereas "a standard deviation of" is the square root of the variance. Standard deviation is often easier to interpret because it's in the same units as the original data.

Can "a variance of" be negative?

No, "a variance of" cannot be negative. It is calculated by squaring the differences from the mean, and any squared number is always non-negative.

What are some alternatives to using "a variance of" in writing?

Depending on the context, you can use phrases like "a degree of variation", "a measure of dispersion", or "a spectrum of differences" to express similar ideas.