an insignificant difference

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "an insignificant difference" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a difference that is so small or trivial that it does not have a meaningful impact. Example: "The two products have an insignificant difference in price, making it hard to choose between them."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

The same letter indicates an insignificant difference, whereas different letters indicate significant differences (P < 0.05) among groups.

Health and Quality of Life Outcomes

Not an insignificant difference.

Harvard University

Those who did not go to the groups had a median survival time of 17.6 months, an insignificant difference.

The New York Times

The subjects exhibited a FE pattern similar to ISO, with an insignificant difference in range of FE rotation from midstance to terminal stance.

Journal of Biomechanics

Children in the group who had surgery averaged 7.9 upper respiratory infections per year, compared with 7.8 infections in the watchful waiting group — an insignificant difference.

The New York Times - Health

The mean stiffness values obtained from the entire group using MREs and MREr were 2.72 ± 0.85 kPa and 2.7 ± 0.85 kPa, respectively, representing an insignificant difference.

Magnetic Resonance Imaging

But in this analysis, 29 percent of people who had P.C.I. still had angina, compared with 33 percent of those on medicine, an insignificant difference.

The New York Times - Health

Of the nine whose infections were worse at this point, three were on clindamycin and six on cephalexin, an insignificant difference.

The New York Times - Health

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

3 human-written examples

In addition, we excluded from our definition any studies where the difference in mean or median fluid administration during the GDT protocol period was <500 ml, an arbitrary definition of a clinically insignificant difference in fluid administration between GDT and standard of care.

Critical Care

On the other hand, there was an overall insignificant difference of Nrf2 protein expression level between groups.

BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine

When undecided voters were pushed for a preference, Mrs. Clinton led, 49percentto43percentcent, again a statistically insignificant difference.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "an insignificant difference", ensure the context clearly establishes the criteria for significance. Quantify the difference whenever possible to strengthen the argument.

Common error

Avoid assuming that "an insignificant difference" proves there is no difference at all. It only means that the data did not provide sufficient evidence to conclude a difference exists. Further investigation might reveal a real difference.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "an insignificant difference" functions as a noun phrase that describes a comparative relationship. It indicates that while there may be a measurable difference between two or more things, that difference is so small as to be unimportant or negligible. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is perfectly acceptable to use.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

72%

News & Media

20%

Academia

8%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "an insignificant difference" is a commonly used phrase to describe a difference that is too small to be of practical importance. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage. It appears most frequently in scientific and news contexts. When using the phrase, be sure to quantify the difference if possible and avoid the common error of assuming that it proves there is no difference at all. Alternatives include "a negligible difference" and "a minor difference". The phrase is grammatically sound and serves to de-emphasize variations lacking meaningful impact.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a negligible difference

Replaces "insignificant" with "negligible", emphasizing the smallness of the difference.

an inconsequential difference

Replaces "insignificant" with "inconsequential", stressing the lack of importance.

a trivial difference

Substitutes "insignificant" with "trivial", highlighting the unimportance of the difference.

a minor difference

Uses "minor" instead of "insignificant", suggesting the difference is small in scale.

a slight difference

Replaces "insignificant" with "slight", indicating a barely perceptible difference.

a marginal difference

Uses "marginal" to suggest the difference is at the edge of being noticeable or important.

a non-essential difference

Emphasizes that the difference does not affect the essential nature or function.

a distinction without a difference

Highlights that although a difference may exist, it has no practical effect.

a difference that makes no difference

Directly states that the difference has no impact or consequence.

a distinction of little consequence

Emphasizes the lack of importance or impact of the distinction.

FAQs

How can I use "an insignificant difference" in a sentence?

You can use "an insignificant difference" to describe a comparison where the variance is so small it's not meaningful. For example: "The study found "an insignificant difference" in test scores between the two groups."

What are some alternatives to saying "an insignificant difference"?

Alternatives include "a negligible difference", "a minor difference", or "a trivial difference". The best choice depends on the specific context and the degree of insignificance you want to convey.

Is it accurate to say there is 'no difference' when there's "an insignificant difference"?

Not exactly. "An insignificant difference" means the observed difference isn't statistically meaningful, but it doesn't prove there's absolutely no difference. Further studies or more precise measurements could reveal a true difference.

How does "an insignificant difference" relate to statistical significance?

"An insignificant difference" implies the result didn't meet the threshold for statistical significance (often p < 0.05). This suggests the observed difference could be due to random chance rather than a real effect.