are not relative

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "are not relative" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing concepts, ideas, or values that do not depend on or vary with other factors or contexts. Example: "In this context, the results of the experiment are not relative to the previous studies conducted."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

12 human-written examples

The lower the value of the item, the more commission we ask, because the costs of cataloguing are not relative to value.

The Guardian - Books

"Wages and living expenses in London are not relative to the rest of the UK, making Londoners the poorest workers in Britain,"  Lee Biggins, founder and managing director of CV library, said.

Independent

Danes, Swedes and Norwegians (and to a lesser extent, Icelanders and Faroese) like to say that their native tongues are not, relative to each other, "foreign" languages, but rather "neighbour" languages.

The Economist

Mr. Adams's interpretation of this third question shows how traditional he is; for him, asking whether it was worth doing means "asking whether it helps us, in Samuel Johnson's phrase, to 'better endure or enjoy life.' " For Mr. Adams ethics are not relative, however much critical judgments may be.

The New York Times - Books

For the ordinary sizes of machine words, the coefficients of u and v are not relative primes.

EURASIP Journal on Embedded Systems

Much cultural disagreement arises, it may be claimed, from local understandings of the virtues, but the virtues themselves are not relative to culture (Nussbaum 1993).

SEP

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

48 human-written examples

Still, many of the favorite faces on their cards are not relatives at all, though Mr. Gallagher and Ms. Yockey agree that they may as well be.

The New York Times

What is the need for roaming at night with men who are not relatives?

Vice

Yet the reality is that values aren't relative, or dependent on cultural norms.

Huffington Post

Recent columns in the New York Times about mores, money, and values--particularly by David Brooks--suggesthatat values aren't relative and don't have to be determined by economics.

Huffington Post

It's just that my wanting is not relative to what my neighbours have.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "are not relative" to clearly state that certain factors or values are independent of each other, ensuring precision in your writing. For example, stating that 'ethics "are not relative"' indicates a belief in absolute moral standards.

Common error

Avoid using "are not relative" when you actually mean 'are not directly proportional'. Ensure you're not inadvertently implying complete independence when a weaker relationship is intended.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "are not relative" primarily functions as a predicate adjective, modifying a subject by asserting that its characteristics are not dependent on external factors or comparisons. This aligns with Ludwig's examples indicating independence or absoluteness.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

30%

Academia

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "are not relative" is used to express that certain concepts or values are absolute, independent, or not contingent on other factors. Ludwig AI confirms that the phrase is grammatically correct and suitable for use in written English. It frequently appears in News & Media, Science, and Academic contexts. When employing this phrase, it's crucial to ensure you are accurately conveying the idea of independence rather than proportionality. Alternative expressions such as "are independent" or "are absolute" may be more appropriate depending on the specific context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

are not proportional

Changes 'relative' to 'proportional', indicating a lack of direct correspondence or ratio.

are not comparable

Substitutes 'relative' with 'comparable', suggesting the items or concepts cannot be meaningfully compared.

are not connected

Replaces 'relative' with 'connected', implying a lack of association or relationship.

are not dependent

Uses 'dependent' instead of 'relative', highlighting the absence of reliance or influence between elements.

are not contingent

Replaces 'relative' with 'contingent', emphasizing that the items do not rely on specific conditions.

are absolute

Offers a direct antonym, indicating that the items or concepts are fixed and unchanging.

are independent

Highlights the lack of reliance or influence, suggesting that the items stand alone.

are unrelated

Directly states that there is no relationship or connection between the items.

do not correlate

Emphasizes the lack of statistical relationship or connection between variables.

are self-governed

Indicates that the variables are self-controlled without external influence.

FAQs

How can I use "are not relative" in a sentence?

Use "are not relative" to indicate that certain values, measurements, or concepts do not depend on or vary in relation to others. For instance, "These costs "are not relative" to the project's overall budget" implies they're fixed regardless of budget changes.

What does it mean when something is described as "are not relative"?

It means that the thing being described is absolute, independent, or not contingent on other factors. For example, if you say "Truths "are not relative"", it implies that truths exist independently of individual perspectives.

Which is correct, saying something is "relative" or that something "is not relative"?

Both can be correct depending on the intended meaning. "Relative" means something varies or depends on something else, while ""are not relative"" means it is independent or absolute.

What are some similar phrases to "are not relative"?

Alternatives include phrases like "are independent", "are absolute", or "do not correlate". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.