deviate by a factor of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "deviate by a factor of" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in contexts involving measurements, statistics, or scientific discussions where a quantity is being compared or altered by a specific multiplier. Example: "The results of the experiment showed that the temperature could deviate by a factor of two from the expected value."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

At stoichiometric conditions, the asymptotic and averaged DNS values of flame displacement speed deviate by a factor of 1.7.

Combustion and Flame

The figure focuses on deviations from the general model, and it appears from the figure that permeability averages deviate by a factor of up to four as indicated by the upper and lower bounds, even though some data points fit the trend line.

Geothermal Energy

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

The GFP fluorescence deviates by a factor of more than two, with a minimal GFP fluorescence signal of 8000 a.u. and a maximal GFP fluorescence signal of about 18000 a.u. at the end of the cultivation.

BMC Biotechnology

Replicates were excluded as outliers (1.1%) if they deviated from the mean by a factor of more than 101.5 or had an amplification efficiency below 1.5 (most excluded measurements met both criteria).

eLife

Here, the best national hospitals deviated from the mean by a factor of 2 3 at most (Danish Hip Arthroplasty Register Annual Report 2006, Swedish Hip Arthroplasty Register Annual Report 2007; Swedish Knee Register Annual Report 2009).

Acta Orthopaedica

The average value for all studies deviated from the average comprehensive, worldwide registry data by a factor of 1.2.

Acta Orthopaedica

The gasification rate of diesel soot exceeded that of soot from the spark generator at 300 °C by a factor of 2. The temperature dependencies deviate from Arrhenius behavior at low temperatures.

Combustion and Flame

scores by a factor of two.

The New York Times - Magazine

So, the laser processing resulted in a totally different appearance, not only the particle dimensions have increased by a factor of 3, but also the size distribution has become a little bit narrower and lost part of its asymmetry, and, what is the important issue in this result, shape and arrangement of the particles deviate from the previous isotropic appearance.

Nanoscale Research Letters

Donations increased by a factor of 100.

Huffington Post

The 'GGG'-triple however strongly deviates from this rule; it causes a relatively large intensity penalty: One 'GGG'-motif give rise to the reduction of the intensity on the average by a factor of about 10−0.2∼0.63 compared with the mean intensity.

Plosone

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the phrase "deviate by a factor of", ensure the context clearly defines what the deviation is relative to. For example, specify whether it's from an expected value, a mean, or a previous measurement.

Common error

Avoid using "deviate by a factor of" when you actually mean an absolute difference. A factor implies multiplication, while an absolute difference implies subtraction. For instance, instead of saying "the measurement deviated by a factor of 5 cm", say "the measurement deviated by 5 cm" if you mean an absolute difference.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "deviate by a factor of" functions as a verb phrase within a sentence, typically modifying a noun or pronoun to indicate the extent of difference or variation from a specified value or norm. Ludwig provides examples showcasing this usage in scientific and general contexts.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

60%

News & Media

30%

Academia

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "deviate by a factor of" is a grammatically correct and usable expression in English, mainly employed to express the proportional difference between two numerical values. Ludwig's AI confirms its correctness and provides real-world examples of its usage. The phrase is most common in scientific and technical contexts, with a formal or neutral tone. When using this phrase, ensure clarity regarding what the deviation is relative to, and avoid confusing it with absolute differences. Alternative phrases include "vary by a multiple of" and "differ by a ratio of". The most frequent and authoritative sources include journals like Combustion and Flame and news sources such as The New York Times.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

increase/decrease by a factor of

Specifies the direction of the change.

vary by a multiple of

Emphasizes the multiplicative relationship in the variation.

differ by a ratio of

Highlights the proportional difference between two values.

scale by a factor of

Focuses on the scaling or adjustment of a quantity.

change by a magnitude of

Indicates the extent of the change in terms of its size or importance.

shift by a magnitude of

Emphasizes a change in position or state.

fluctuate by a proportion of

Implies irregular variations around a central value.

range within a factor of

Highlights the boundaries of the variation.

diverge by a coefficient of

Highlights a specific coefficient that accounts for the difference.

deviate by an order of

Indicates the amount of variation related to powers of ten.

FAQs

How do I use "deviate by a factor of" in a sentence?

Use "deviate by a factor of" to indicate that a value differs from another by a multiplicative amount. For example, "The experimental results "deviate by a factor of" two from the theoretical predictions".

What can I say instead of "deviate by a factor of"?

You can use alternatives like "vary by a multiple of", "differ by a ratio of", or "scale by a factor of" depending on the specific context.

Is it correct to say "deviate by a factor of"?

Yes, the phrase "deviate by a factor of" is grammatically correct and commonly used, particularly in scientific and technical contexts, to describe how much a value differs multiplicatively from a reference point. Ludwig confirms this usage.

What is the difference between "deviate by a factor of" and "deviate by"?

"Deviate by a factor of" indicates a multiplicative difference, while "deviate by" typically implies an additive or absolute difference. For example, the first indicates a scaling, whereas the second shows a direct variance.