below the average level

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "below the average level" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that is not meeting the standard or typical expectations in a particular context, such as performance, quality, or measurement. Example: "The student's test scores were below the average level, indicating a need for additional support in their studies."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

18 human-written examples

As a result, defense spending is now only 12percentt below the average level from 1976 to 1990.

The New York Times

Her children have been doing the programme for over a year, after she found her son was performing below the average level for his age.

The Guardian

Methylation levels that are significantly above or below the average level across all of the tissues are highlighted, indicating possible cell-specific differences.

The New York Times

"The assumption we propose to make about the level of postgraduate fees is significantly below the average level actually charged by institutions and does not lead to a reduction in grant for any institution," said a Hefce spokesman.

The Guardian

Other domestic stocks, held commercially in refineries, pipelines or storage tanks, stand at about 299 million barrels, about 5percentt below the average level of the last five years, according to the Energy Information Administration.

The New York Times

Cynthia Zipf, executive director of Clean Ocean Action, said the new PCB standard fell below the average level found in sand worms at the site, and is about at the average found in lobsters there.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

42 human-written examples

The figure below shows the average level of racial resentment among white respondents over time, from 1988 to 2016.

The Washington Post

Although wage growth is the fastest in a decade, it remains below the average levels seen before the crash.

The Guardian - Business

By contrast, barley and maize output are estimated at below the average levels as yields were reduced by unfavourable weather conditions.

Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations

The lower limit of quantitation (LLOQ) was approximately 2 orders of magnitude below the average levels of endogenous miR-34a.

Analytical Chemistry

Although the average level of A1PI was higher among the group living in the Mn-affected area, 11% of the children in this group displayed A1PI levels below the average for the control children.

Emerging Health Threats Journal

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "below the average level", ensure that the context clearly defines what "average" refers to. For instance, specify if it's an industry average, a historical average, or a specific group's average to avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "below the average level" without providing a clear reference point for what constitutes the average. Without context, the statement lacks meaning and can be misinterpreted. Always specify the group, time period, or standard being used to calculate the average.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "below the average level" functions primarily as a prepositional phrase. It modifies a noun or pronoun by indicating a position or state that is lower than a typical or standard measure. As confirmed by Ludwig, it correctly conveys this meaning.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Science

35%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "below the average level" is a common prepositional phrase used to describe something that falls short of a typical or standard measure. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability across various contexts. While it's most frequently found in news and scientific articles, its precise meaning depends heavily on the context in which it's used. When using "below the average level", ensure clarity by specifying what 'average' refers to, and consider more formal or informal synonyms based on your audience.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

under the average standard

Replaces "level" with "standard", focusing on a benchmark of quality or achievement.

less than the average benchmark

Substitutes "level" with "benchmark", highlighting a reference point for comparison.

lower than the mean value

Uses "mean value" instead of "average level", emphasizing a statistical measure.

beneath the expected norm

Replaces "average level" with "expected norm", shifting the focus to anticipated standards.

inferior to the typical degree

Uses "inferior" and "typical degree", emphasizing a deficiency in comparison to what is usual.

subpar compared to the norm

Employs "subpar" and "the norm", underscoring a failure to meet the standard.

deficient relative to the average

Highlights a deficiency when compared to the standard, using "deficient".

falling short of the median

Uses the statistical term "median" instead of "average", indicating a lower position in a distribution.

not up to par with the average

Uses the idiom "not up to par", implying a failure to meet expectations.

poorer than the standard measure

Replaces "level" with "standard measure" and uses "poorer than", indicating an inadequate quality compared to a reference point.

FAQs

How can I use "below the average level" in a sentence?

You can use "below the average level" to describe something that is not meeting the standard or typical expectations in a particular context. Example: "The student's test scores were "below the average level", indicating a need for additional support in their studies."

What's a simple way to rephrase "below the average level"?

You can use alternatives such as "under the average standard" or "less than the average benchmark" depending on the context to convey that something is not meeting the typical expectations.

Is it more formal to say "below the average level" or are there better alternatives?

While "below the average level" is acceptable, more formal alternatives include "lower than the mean value" or "beneath the expected norm". Choose the option that best fits the tone of your writing.

How does "below the average level" compare to "falling short of expectations"?

"Falling short of expectations" implies a failure to meet anticipated outcomes, while "below the average level" indicates a position lower than a typical or standard measure. Although both suggest deficiency, the former is more subjective, while the latter is more objective and data-driven.