are not representative of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'are not representative of' is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it when you want to express that something does not represent a group or type of person sufficiently. For example, "The members of the committee are not representative of the range of ages in the organization."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

They are not representative of the diversity of the entire group, just as birds are not representative of all dinosaurs.

University of California, Berkeley

"Single photographs are not representative of what I do best.

The Guardian - Arts

Leeds and London are not representative of the UK.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

But these people are not representative of Ukip at all.

The Guardian

"You are not representative of the students of U.C.

The New York Times

But they are not representative of the party.

The Economist

"There are things happening in Washington DC that are not representative of America, and there are things happening in Sanaa that are not representative of Yemen.

Independent

Figures for the United States are not representative of the world.

Britannica

"We are hopeful that Mr. Spicer's comments are not representative of the entire administration," Davis said.

The Washington Post

Other cryptodires are known from the Late Jurassic, although they are not representative of existing families.

Britannica

Celtic, the economic entity and football team, are not representative of Scottish football.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "are not representative of" to clearly state that a sample, observation, or case may not accurately reflect the larger group or population it is drawn from. Be specific about what the sample fails to represent and why.

Common error

Avoid drawing broad conclusions based solely on instances described using the phrase "are not representative of". Always consider additional evidence and contextual factors to ensure your analysis is well-supported. For example, don't assume all members of a group share the traits of a few individuals who "are not representative of" the wider group.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "are not representative of" functions as a qualifying expression. It indicates that a particular subset or sample does not accurately reflect the characteristics, qualities, or distribution of a larger population or category. Ludwig AI confirms this usage through numerous examples demonstrating its ability to express a lack of typicality.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

37%

Science

34%

Academia

5%

Less common in

Formal & Business

2%

Encyclopedias

2%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "are not representative of" is a common phrase used to express that a particular sample or subset does not accurately reflect the broader population or category from which it's drawn. Ludwig AI confirms that this is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression across various contexts, predominantly in news, scientific research, and academic writing. To ensure clear and accurate communication, use this phrase to highlight potential biases or limitations in generalizing from specific instances. Be mindful of overgeneralization based on non-representative data. Alternatives like "are not indicative of" offer similar meanings but may be more suitable for formal settings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

are not characteristic of

Emphasizes that certain traits are absent or atypical.

are atypical of

A more direct way of saying something is not typical.

are not indicative of

Focuses on the idea that something doesn't accurately indicate the nature of something else.

are uncharacteristic of

Places emphasis on a deviation from the usual pattern.

do not exemplify

Replaces "are not representative of" with a more formal term for not being a typical example.

do not typify

Similar to "do not exemplify", this highlights a lack of typical characteristics.

are not a true reflection of

Highlights the idea that something distorts or misrepresents something else.

are an exception to

Suggests being an outlier, rather than typical.

do not constitute a good example of

Expresses that something is a poor illustration.

present a skewed picture of

Implies a biased or distorted view, rather than a typical one.

FAQs

How can I use "are not representative of" in a sentence?

Use "are not representative of" to indicate that a specific example or subset does not accurately reflect the characteristics of a larger group or population. For example, "These statistics "are not representative of" the entire country because they only include urban areas".

What is a more formal alternative to "are not representative of"?

A more formal alternative is "are not indicative of". This phrasing is suitable for academic or professional contexts where precision and objectivity are important.

Is it always negative to say something "is not representative of" something else?

Not necessarily. While it often highlights a discrepancy or potential bias, it can also be a neutral statement of fact. The implication depends on the context and what you are trying to convey.

Which is correct: "is not representative of" or "are not representative of"?

The correct form depends on the subject. Use "is not representative of" with singular subjects (e.g., "This sample is not representative of the population"), and "are not representative of" with plural subjects (e.g., "These samples "are not representative of" the population").