average or below

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "average or below" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a level of performance, quality, or measurement that is at the average level or lower. Example: "The test scores for the class were average or below, indicating a need for additional support."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

43 human-written examples

If they worked for a boss whose sense of humor they describe as "average" or below, the employee's chances of staying dropped to 77percentt.

The New York Times

Is your Chief Information Officer above average, average or below?

Forbes

These were basically "average" or "below average" guys.

Huffington Post

The vast majority of Americans, approximately 70percentt, possess the intelligence level of only average or below, which is roughly at or below a high-school level.

HuffPost

U.S. students, who once led the world in academic achievement, are behind their counterparts in other countries, performing in the "average" or "below average" range on the most recent (2010) Programme for International Student Achievement PISAA ).

Huffington Post

It's tricky because there's a fairly strong correlation between income and education.4 Nonetheless, with the whole country to pick from, we can find some places where education levels are high but incomes are average or below average".

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

17 human-written examples

Consider three large-value funds: Vanguard Windsor, Windsor II and Oppenheimer Quest Value A. All earn four stars and offer above-average historical returns with average-or-below levels of risk.

Los Angeles Times

Many of these "bright" kids are average or below-average middle-class kids, with lots of parental help.

The Guardian

HighMark Value Momentum and AXA Rosenberg U.S. Small Capitalization have consistently generated above-average returns with average or below-average risk, according to Morningstar data.

The New York Times

These tests pose very little danger to successful school districts, but they constitute a fearsome reality check in average or below-average school systems.

The New York Times - Magazine

Among the 34 market-based, democracy-leaning countries in the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development OECDD), the United States ranks around 20th annually, earning average or below-average grades in reading, science, and mathematics.

Harvard University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing performance, use "average or below" to clearly indicate results that are at the expected level or lower, avoiding ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "average or below" when you actually mean "median or below". The average (mean) can be skewed by outliers, while the median represents the midpoint.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "average or below" functions as a descriptive modifier, typically used to qualify nouns by indicating a level of quality, performance, or quantity that is either at the average level or lower. As Ludwig AI shows, this phrase frequently appears in various contexts to provide a comparative assessment.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

42%

Science

34%

Formal & Business

8%

Less common in

Academia

5%

Wiki

5%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "average or below" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression to indicate that something meets the average standard or falls below it. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, this phrase appears commonly across diverse fields, including news, science, and business, offering a straightforward way to convey comparative assessments. When using "average or below", ensure clarity by distinguishing it from "below average" and consider whether "average" or "median" is the more appropriate measure. Alternatives such as "at or under the average" or "equal to or less than average" can provide nuanced emphasis depending on the context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

at or under the average

Replaces "below" with "under" and includes "at" for emphasis on the boundary.

equal to or less than average

Substitutes "below" with "less than" for a more explicit comparison.

not above average

Uses a negative construction to indicate the same range, focusing on the upper limit.

at or worse than average

Replaces "below" with "worse than" to emphasize a potentially negative connotation.

of average quality or lower

Focuses on quality rather than a general level, implying a standard or substandard assessment.

underperforming or average

Highlights the concept of underperformance in addition to being merely average.

meeting or failing to meet the average

More explicitly states the two possible conditions: meeting the average standard or failing to do so.

in the lower to average range

Specifies a range from lower levels up to the average point.

not exceeding the average

Similar to "not above average" but more formally structured.

standard or substandard

Uses more concise terms to imply a similar idea regarding quality or performance.

FAQs

What does "average or below" mean?

The phrase "average or below" indicates that something is at the average level or lower. It encompasses anything from the mean downwards, suggesting a performance or quality that is not above the norm.

How can I use "average or below" in a sentence?

You can use "average or below" to describe data points, performances, or conditions that fall at or below the average. For instance, "The student's test scores were "average or below", indicating a need for additional support."

What are some alternatives to "average or below"?

Alternatives include "at or under the average", "equal to or less than average", or "not above average". The best choice depends on the specific context and desired emphasis.

Is "average or below" the same as "below average"?

No, "average or below" includes the average itself, whereas "below average" excludes the average. The former describes a broader range encompassing both the average and anything lower, while the latter specifically refers to values less than the average.