anecdotal

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "anecdotal" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to describe evidence or information that is based on personal stories or accounts rather than facts. Example sentence: His success in business was attributed to his hard work and determination, but this was only based on anecdotal evidence from his friends and family.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The anecdotal nature of this treatment was made absolutely clear and signalled as a claim from a health worker's personal experience.

The Guardian - Opinion

She liked the sparky dialogue but felt many of the scenes were undeveloped and the plot anecdotal.

The Guardian

There is plenty of anecdotal evidence of people who eat three or more eggs a day and feel fine.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Yet while many of those 300 stories fail to rise beyond the anecdotal, nearly a quarter are very good, and within them stands a core of indisputable classics.

The Guardian - Books

After the anecdotal intimacies of the award-winning Toast, the mouth-watering riches of The Kitchen Diaries, here at OFM we're absolutely thrilled to be extracting his brilliant new book Eating for England.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

From the subject who proclaims "the white race is the one that is discriminated against anymore" to the woman who admits that "this country has been dominated by white male indoctrination", Dow makes it hard to paint whiteness in broad strokes, and hard to dismiss racism as the anecdotal actions of a beleaguered few in the American south.

The Guardian - Opinion

An alcohol unit is the equivalent of a third of a pint of medium-strength beer, half a 175ml (six fluid ounces) glass of red wine with 12% alcohol by volume, or a 25ml shot of whisky, The findings add statistical backing to anecdotal evidence for a link between excessive work and alcohol abuse, the authors said.

The Guardian

Kaysen provides personal stories, a series of reflections and anecdotal descriptions of events whilst as a patient.

The Guardian

So how to reconcile the anecdotal evidence with the empirical science?

The Guardian - Lifestyle

You have emotion, anecdotal evidence, a sixth sense; they have hard facts.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

"There have been allegations and anecdotal evidence for a while that the benefits regime has tipped people over the edge.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "anecdotal" evidence, acknowledge its limitations. Pair it with more robust data where possible to strengthen your argument.

Common error

Avoid using "anecdotal" evidence as the sole basis for significant claims. Always seek corroborating data or more systematic evidence to support your points.

Linguistic Context

The adjective "anecdotal" primarily functions to qualify nouns, typically "evidence", "reports", or "accounts". It indicates that the information is based on personal stories or observations, rather than systematic research. As Ludwig AI states, it describes evidence based on personal accounts rather than facts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

67%

Formal & Business

15%

Science

12%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The adjective "anecdotal" is a common term used to describe evidence based on personal accounts rather than rigorous research. As Ludwig AI explains, the term is grammatically correct and is usually used to describe evidence or information based on personal stories instead of facts. While it appears most frequently in news and media, it also has usage in formal business and scientific contexts. When using "anecdotal" evidence, it's important to acknowledge its limitations and seek corroborating data to support claims. Common errors include overreliance on "anecdotal" evidence as the sole basis for conclusions. This term is useful for generating hypotheses but must be supported by robust empirical data. Top authoritative sources include The Guardian and The Economist.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

narrative evidence

Focuses on the storytelling aspect of the evidence.

personal accounts

Highlights the individual perspective of the information.

hearsay evidence

Emphasizes the unverified nature of the information.

experiential data

Focuses on the data being derived from experience.

firsthand accounts

Underscores the direct involvement of the source.

subjective evidence

Highlights the bias in the evidence.

casual observations

Suggests a lack of rigor in the data collection.

unofficial reports

Implies a lack of formal documentation.

isolated instances

Emphasizes the lack of widespread occurrence.

individual testimonies

Highlights the reliance on personal statements.

FAQs

How is "anecdotal" evidence used in a sentence?

You can use "anecdotal" to describe evidence based on personal accounts rather than systematic research, as in "The study relies heavily on "anecdotal evidence" from patient interviews".

What are some synonyms for "anecdotal"?

Alternatives to "anecdotal" include "narrative evidence", "personal accounts", or "hearsay evidence", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it appropriate to use "anecdotal" evidence in scientific research?

While "anecdotal" evidence can be useful for generating hypotheses, it is generally not considered sufficient for drawing definitive conclusions in scientific research. It should be complemented with empirical data.

What is the difference between "anecdotal" and empirical evidence?

"Anecdotal" evidence is based on personal stories and observations, while empirical evidence is derived from systematic observation and experimentation. Empirical evidence is generally considered more reliable.