average figures

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "average figures" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to typical or mean values in a set of data or statistics. Example: "The average figures for the last quarter indicate a significant increase in sales compared to the previous year."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

"In comparison to the UK average, figures for teachers show even greater life expectancy.

The Guardian

Rainfall in April was fairly close to the average figures across the country.

The Guardian

Land values have soared as well.Of course, such average figures disguise as much as they reveal.

The Economist

The average figures for the EU include prices in the newer members such as Romania and Bulgaria.

The Guardian - Money

The average figures for CBB7 were up 10% against last year's launch, which saw around 5.6 million tuning in.

Independent

But Cappelli points out that for parents and students the average figures may not mean much, because they disguise enormous differences in outcomes from school to school.

The New Yorker

It was watched by an average of 6.7 million people, a 28% share, between 8.30pm to 10.05pm, better then average figures for BBC1's notoriously difficult Wednesday nights.

The Guardian

Is it possible to allow schools to choose their own systems for teacher assessment and yet also to publish national average figures and school-by-school comparison data?

The Guardian

However, as Prof Sir Michael Marmot, points out (paywalled link), average figures mask a variation of up to 16 years, between the most and least advantaged.

The Guardian - Opinion

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

2 human-written examples

At the top of the yearly chart, three staunchly American films – Avengers Assemble, The Dark Knight Rises and The Hunger Games – won the battle for hearts (minds is possibly a stretch too far) on home soil; they notched up higher-than-average figures, even for top titles.

The Guardian - Film

In fact in the larger sets smaller-than-average figures were likely to be more frequent.

Plosone

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing trends or patterns, clarify the period over which the "average figures" are calculated to provide context and avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid assuming that "average figures" accurately represent every individual case within a dataset; averages can mask significant variations and outliers.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "average figures" primarily functions as a noun phrase, often used to quantify and summarize data sets or statistical information. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage and provides numerous examples across diverse contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

44%

Science

43%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "average figures" is a commonly used noun phrase that refers to typical or mean values, serving as a statistical summary. Ludwig AI affirms that the phrase is grammatically correct and readily usable in various contexts. While generally neutral in tone, its formality can shift depending on the source, with academic and scientific texts leaning towards greater formality. Remember that while "average figures" provide a concise overview, they should be interpreted with caution, considering potential skews from outliers. When writing, always clarify the timeframe or dataset to which the "average figures" apply to avoid ambiguity. Alternatives such as "mean values" or "typical numbers" may be suitable depending on the specific context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

mean values

Replaces "figures" with "values", maintaining the statistical sense but with a slightly more formal tone.

average statistics

Emphasizes the statistical nature of the data being discussed.

typical numbers

Substitutes both "average" and "figures" for more general terms, suitable for less technical contexts.

usual figures

Offers a synonym for "average", maintaining a similar level of formality.

representative numbers

Focuses on the figures being representative of a larger data set.

general statistics

Broader term that encompasses "average figures" but might lack the specificity depending on the scenario.

overall values

Indicates aggregate values rather than specifically average values.

aggregate numbers

Refers to combined numbers, which may or may not be averages.

typical measurements

Suitable when referring to physical measurements rather than numerical data in general.

expected values

Suggests values that are anticipated or predicted, slightly different from observed averages.

FAQs

How can I use "average figures" in a sentence?

You can use "average figures" to refer to typical or mean values. For example: "The "average figures" for sales this quarter are higher than last year's."

What are some alternatives to "average figures"?

Alternatives include "mean values", "typical numbers", or "average statistics", depending on the context.

What does "average figures" mean in statistics?

In statistics, "average figures" refer to the central tendency of a dataset, typically calculated as the arithmetic mean. They provide a summary measure of the typical value within a distribution.

Are "average figures" always reliable indicators?

While "average figures" provide a general overview, they may not always be reliable indicators due to potential skews from outliers or variations within the dataset. Consider supplementing them with other statistical measures for a more comprehensive analysis.