controlling for

USAGE SUMMARY

"controlling for" is correct and usable in written English.
It is often used when discussing the effects of a certain factor that is controlled by another variable when making an analysis or comparison. For example, "The results show that students in the control group had significantly higher scores than students in the experimental group, controlling for gender and socio-economic status."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

After controlling for the mothers' I.Q.

The New York Times

This is called controlling for background.

The New York Times

Controlling for incidence is important.

Latin American Economic Review

This allowed controlling for potential confounders.

International Journal of Emergency Medicine

Controlling for low job control reduced the low grade (e.g).g

SEP

But controlling for environmental changes has been difficult.

Science Magazine

But even after controlling for rank, the gap persists.

Science Magazine

This would also allow controlling for migraine disability.

The Journal of Headache and Pain

Not controlling for these characteristics might lead to biased results.

IZA Journal of Migration

These results are robust to controlling for two relevant variables.

Comparative Migration Studies

Controlling for each covariate separately did not change the results.

Injury Epidemiology

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "controlling for", ensure you clearly state which variables are being controlled for to maintain clarity and rigor in your analysis.

Common error

Avoid ambiguity by explicitly stating which variables are being controlled for. Instead of saying "controlling for several factors", specify "controlling for age, gender, and education level."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "controlling for" functions as a prepositional phrase used in statistical analysis and research. It introduces the variables or factors that are being accounted for in order to isolate the effect of other variables. As Ludwig AI explains, it is used when discussing the effects of a certain factor that is controlled by another variable when making an analysis or comparison.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

83%

News & Media

15%

Formal & Business

2%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "controlling for" is a prepositional phrase widely used in scientific research and data analysis. It indicates that researchers have accounted for the influence of certain variables to isolate the effect of others. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage. This phrase is most commonly found in scientific and academic contexts, signifying a rigorous approach to research methodology. While grammatically straightforward, it's crucial to specify which variables are being controlled for to maintain clarity and avoid ambiguity, ensuring the validity and reliability of the findings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

accounting for

Focuses on the act of considering a factor rather than directly mitigating its influence.

adjusting for

Highlights the act of making changes to data to neutralize a variable's impact.

factoring in

Emphasizes the inclusion of a variable in the analysis.

taking into account

Stresses the consideration of something before making a judgment.

considering

Focuses solely on the act of thinking about a particular variable.

neutralizing the effect of

Directly addresses the mitigation of a variable's impact.

eliminating the influence of

Highlights the complete removal of a factor's effect.

holding constant

Implies maintaining a variable at a fixed value during analysis.

isolating the impact of

Focuses on determining the specific effect of a single variable.

removing the bias of

Emphasizes the correction of a systematic error caused by a specific variable.

FAQs

How is "controlling for" used in research?

In research, "controlling for" is used to isolate the effect of one variable on another by statistically removing the influence of other variables that could confound the results. This helps ensure that observed relationships are more accurate and reliable.

What does it mean to "control for" a variable?

To "control for" a variable means to statistically adjust for its effect in an analysis, allowing researchers to examine the relationship between other variables more accurately. This is done to minimize the risk of drawing false conclusions due to confounding factors.

How does "adjusting for" differ from "controlling for"?

The phrases are often used interchangeably, but "controlling for" typically refers to a statistical process to remove the effect of a variable, while "adjusting for" can refer to broader methods of accounting for a variable's influence. Both aim to reduce bias in research.

What are some common variables that researchers might "control for"?

Common variables to "control for" include age, gender, socioeconomic status, education level, and pre-existing health conditions. These factors can often influence outcomes and must be accounted for to determine true relationships between other variables of interest.