central tendency

USAGE SUMMARY

'central tendency' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use the phrase to describe a group of similar items, and how their values, characteristics, or behavior tend to concentrate around a certain common point. For example, "The central tendency of the data showed that the majority of customers have an average preference for the new product over the existing one."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Appropriately, they're covering Central Tendency.

The Guardian - Travel

Still, even outlying polls are distributed around a central tendency.

The New York Times

The so-called central tendency forecast is an amalgam of the highest and lowest estimates.

The New York Times

That's one central tendency that won't change as long as Bernanke stays in his seat.

The Guardian - Opinion

Central tendency statistical of data were obtained.

Journal of Ophthalmic Inflammation and Infection

The trimmed mean is a robust estimator of central tendency.

Journal of the Brazilian Computer Society

The central tendency is shown by the median.

Ecological Processes

Descriptive statistics quantify central tendency and variance of data sets.

A Pharmacology Primer Theory, Applications, and Methods

Note that groups with high central tendency would have low dispersion, but groups with low dispersion could have also low central tendency.

EPJ Data Science

Therefore, while we can select a "best" measure of central tendency for the data we are analyzing, there is no "best" central tendency measure for all data sets.

Mathematics-in-Industry Case Studies

In addition, compared to objective status, the central tendency is more salient with subjective status.

The Journal of Chinese Sociology

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing data, clearly specify which measure of "central tendency" (mean, median, or mode) you are using, as each provides different insights and is appropriate for different types of data.

Common error

Avoid assuming the mean is always the best measure of "central tendency". For skewed data, the median often provides a more accurate representation of the typical value. Always consider the distribution of your data before choosing a measure of "central tendency".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "central tendency" functions as a noun phrase referring to the central or typical value in a data set. Ludwig AI affirms its correctness and usability. It is commonly used in statistical analysis and data interpretation.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

65%

News & Media

15%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "central tendency" is a noun phrase used to describe the typical or average value within a dataset. As indicated by Ludwig AI, the phrase is correct and widely used, particularly in scientific, statistical, and data-driven contexts. The most common measures of "central tendency" include the mean, median, and mode, each appropriate for different types of data distributions. When using this phrase, it's important to specify which measure of "central tendency" you are referring to and to consider the shape of the data distribution. While frequently used in formal and scientific settings, understanding "central tendency" is valuable in interpreting data presented in news and business contexts as well.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

average value

Focuses on the arithmetic mean as a representation of the typical value.

typical value

Highlights the concept of a value that is representative or common in a dataset.

measure of location

Emphasizes the position of the center of a data distribution.

center of distribution

Highlights the point around which data values cluster.

most common value

Emphasizes the value that appears most frequently in a dataset.

balancing point

Suggests the point at which the data is evenly distributed.

expected value

Implies a probabilistic average, often used in statistical modeling.

point of concentration

Highlights the area where the majority of data points are located.

middle value

Focuses on the median as the central point of the dataset.

representative value

Highlights that the value is typical or characteristic of the dataset.

FAQs

How do I choose between mean, median, and mode as measures of "central tendency"?

Choose the mean for symmetrical data without outliers. Use the median for skewed data or when outliers are present. The mode is best for categorical data or when identifying the most frequent value.

What does a high or low "central tendency" indicate about a dataset?

A high "central tendency" indicates that data values are clustered towards the higher end of the scale, while a low "central tendency" suggests clustering towards the lower end. Consider "data dispersion" to get a better picture of the dataset.

Can "central tendency" be used to describe non-numerical data?

While "central tendency" is primarily used for numerical data, the mode can be applied to describe the most frequent category in non-numerical data.

How does "central tendency" relate to "data distribution"?

"Central tendency" describes the center of a distribution. The shape of the data distribution (e.g., normal, skewed) influences which measure of "central tendency" is most representative.