an average of

USAGE SUMMARY

"an average of" is correct and can be used in written English.
You can use it when you want to refer to an average result of some kind, like a group or a set of data. For example: "The students achieved an average of 80% on the exam."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"Homeland" drew an average of 4.4 million.

The New York Times

(Participants saved an average of $540 last year).

The New York Times

Treatments take an average of 30 months.

The New York Times

But an average of 1.65 million watched.

The Guardian - Sport

They stay an average of 16 months.

The New York Times

Orlando, with an average of 6.53percentt.

The New York Times

Nonunionized workers earn an average of $10.50.

The New York Times

Municipal taxes rose an average of 4.16percentt and county taxes an average of 1.83percentt.

The New York Times

CNN had an average of 1.49 million, and MSNBC had an average of 1.37 million.

The New York Times

I would say an average of 200.

Forbes

That's an average of 28.6 m/s.

BBC

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "an average of", ensure that the data you are referencing is appropriate for averaging. Be mindful of outliers and potential biases that could skew the average.

Common error

Avoid assuming that "an average of" represents every individual case. The average is a central tendency and may not reflect the experience of all members of the group.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "an average of" functions as a modifier, specifically quantifying a noun or noun phrase. It indicates the central tendency of a dataset, as Ludwig suggests. Ludwig's examples include cases where it modifies values like 'million', 'percent', 'dollars', etc.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Science

20%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "an average of" is a versatile phrase used to indicate the typical or central value within a dataset. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and common usage across various contexts. As shown by Ludwig's examples, its frequent occurrence in News & Media and Science reflects its importance in summarizing statistical information and communicating trends. While "an average of" is a valuable tool, it's crucial to be aware of its limitations and potential misinterpretations, such as assuming it represents every individual case. Consider using alternatives like "on average" for conciseness or "the mean value" for increased formality.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

on average

This alternative is more concise and commonly used in many contexts, functioning as an adverbial phrase to indicate a typical value.

the mean value

This alternative is more formal and precise, specifically referring to the arithmetic mean.

a median of

This alternative refers to the middle value in a dataset when it is ordered, which might differ from the mean.

a typical value of

This alternative emphasizes the representativeness of the value as being typical or standard.

a central tendency of

This alternative refers to any measure that describes the center of a distribution of data.

approximately

This alternative indicates an estimated or near value, without explicitly calculating an average.

the typical amount is

This alternative focuses on the amount that most commonly occurs.

in the vicinity of

This alternative suggests a range around a central value, implying an approximation.

the usual rate is

This alternative focuses on what is most frequently observed or experienced.

around

This alternative is more casual and indicates a rough estimate or approximation.

FAQs

How do you use "an average of" in a sentence?

Use "an average of" to describe a typical or central value calculated from a set of data. For instance, "The class had "an average of" 85% on the test" indicates the typical score, not necessarily every student's individual score.

What are some alternatives to saying "an average of"?

Alternatives include "on average", "approximately", or "around", depending on the level of precision needed. Each offers a slightly different nuance in conveying the central tendency of a dataset.

Is it always accurate to rely on "an average of"?

While "an average of" provides a useful summary, it can be misleading if the data has extreme values or is not normally distributed. Consider using other measures, like the median, to provide a more complete picture.

What's the difference between "an average of" and "the mean of"?

"An average of" is a more general term for a central tendency, while "the mean of" specifically refers to the arithmetic mean, calculated by summing all values and dividing by the number of values. They are often interchangeable, but "the mean of" is more precise.