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Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak

CEO of Professional Science Editing for Scientists @ prosciediting.com

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compared to the average

Grammar usage guide and real-world examples

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "compared to the average" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when making a comparison between a specific value or group and the average of a larger set. Example: "The test scores of the students in this class are significantly higher compared to the average of the entire school."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"But compared to the average Joe, he lived a lifetime".

News & Media

The New York Times

"How tall your parents are compared to the average height explains 80 to 90percentt of how tall you are compared to the average person," Dr. Vaupel said.

The house was a mansion compared to the average English house he knew.

News & Media

The New Yorker

Christmas Day is unique compared to the average day for the grid.

News & Media

The Guardian

One of the two pollsters with consistently good Mitt Romney numbers compared to the average has been Rasmussen Reports.

"Individuals that are highly identified with the team show extreme arousal compared to the average fan," he said.

The cost of the DTAP intervention per year is £5,299 per year, compared to the average cost of a prison place at £23,585 per year.

Is the average person in a battleground state more anti-Palin compared to the average person in the aggregate of the spectator states?

News & Media

The New Yorker

"We're trying to get at the notion of economic injustice in what the C.E.O. is making compared to the average worker," he said.

News & Media

The New York Times

"Compared to the average Nassau residence, these residences would be exempted from close to 80percentt of the taxes other residences are subject to," Mr. Deery said.

News & Media

The New York Times

Using a measuring apparatus, the Reporter found the hand to be a mere 7.25 inches – compared to the average male hand size of 7.44 inches.

News & Media

The Guardian
Show more...

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "compared to the average", ensure that the "average" being referred to is clearly defined and relevant to the context. State the specific population or dataset from which the average is derived to provide clarity.

Common error

Avoid using "compared to the average" without specifying what "average" refers to. This lack of clarity can confuse readers. Instead of saying "This year's sales are up compared to the average", specify "This year's sales are up compared to the average of the last five years".

Antonio Rotolo, PhD - Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

Antonio Rotolo, PhD

Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

Source & Trust

82%

Authority and reliability

4.6/5

Expert rating

Real-world application tested

Linguistic Context

The phrase "compared to the average" functions as a prepositional phrase used for making comparisons. It typically introduces a clause that sets a benchmark for evaluating a particular value or characteristic. Ludwig confirms its correct and common usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

54%

Science

17%

Encyclopedias

2%

Less common in

Wiki

2%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "compared to the average" serves as a fundamental tool for establishing context through comparison, and is grammatically sound. Ludwig AI's analysis, aligned with its frequent appearance across diverse sources, including News & Media and Scientific publications, confirms its common and correct usage. To ensure clarity in writing, the 'average' should be clearly defined. Common errors involve vague references, which can confuse readers. Alternatives like "relative to the norm" exist, yet the key function remains the same: contextualizing data through comparison.

FAQs

How do I use "compared to the average" in a sentence?

Use "compared to the average" when you want to highlight a difference between a specific value and the typical value of a group. For instance, "His income is high "compared to the average" income in his city".

What is a synonym for "compared to the average"?

A synonym for "compared to the average" is "relative to the norm". This can be used interchangeably in many contexts to convey a similar meaning of assessing something against a standard value.

Is it always necessary to specify the population when using "compared to the average"?

Yes, specifying the population or group from which the average is derived is crucial for clarity. For example, saying "compared to the average for the industry" is more informative than just "compared to the average".

What's the difference between "compared to the average" and "above average"?

"Compared to the average" indicates a direct comparison, while "above average" implies exceeding the average. "Compared to the average", his score was higher, but being above average also means his score exceeds the norm.

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Source & Trust

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Authority and reliability

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Expert rating

Real-world application tested

Most frequent sentences: