insignificant difference

USAGE SUMMARY

"insignificant difference" is a perfectly correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it to refer to a small or minimal difference or distinction between two things. For example, "Although the two models of car were different, the differences were extremely minor and of an insignificant difference."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

The same letter indicates an insignificant difference, whereas different letters indicate significant differences (P < 0.05) among groups.

Health and Quality of Life Outcomes

The statistical insignificant difference (P > 0.05) among the different pharmacokinetic parameters of bilayer tablets and Tonac was observed.

BioMed Research International

Mr. Green leads with 30percenttoto Mr. Ferrer's 23percentt, a statistically insignificant difference.

The New York Times

They scored themselves as 7.2 and others at 7.3 a statistically insignificant difference.

The Economist

Those who did not go to the groups had a median survival time of 17.6 months, an insignificant difference.

The New York Times

When undecided voters were pushed for a preference, Mrs. Clinton led, 49percentto43percentcent, again a statistically insignificant difference.

The New York Times

In October, a Times/CBS poll found Mr. Gore had 42 percent, with 37percentt for Mr. Bradley, a statistically insignificant difference.

The New York Times

An insignificant difference doesn't mean that you've proven no difference; it just means that you haven't proved that there is one.

The Guardian - Opinion

Children in the group who had surgery averaged 7.9 upper respiratory infections per year, compared with 7.8 infections in the watchful waiting group — an insignificant difference.

The New York Times - Health

But in this analysis, 29 percent of people who had P.C.I. still had angina, compared with 33 percent of those on medicine, an insignificant difference.

The New York Times - Health

But after adjusting for other risks, in-hospital mortality was 5.0 percent in 2005 and 4.7 percent in 2009, a statistically insignificant difference.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "insignificant difference" to emphasize that despite apparent variations, the practical outcome or effect remains essentially the same.

Common error

Avoid claiming an "insignificant difference" solely based on visual observation. Always back it up with statistical data to avoid subjective interpretations and potential inaccuracies.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "insignificant difference" functions as an adjective phrase modifying a noun. It indicates that the difference being referred to is not substantial or meaningful. As Ludwig indicates, it's a standard and accepted expression.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

67%

News & Media

31%

Formal & Business

2%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "insignificant difference" is a common and grammatically sound expression used to denote a small and unimportant difference. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and widespread use across diverse sources. It's most frequently used in scientific and news contexts to convey that observed variations are not statistically significant or practically meaningful. When writing, use this phrase when you want to emphasize the lack of a substantial distinction and support it with quantitative data to avoid misinterpretation. Alternatives include "negligible difference", "minor disparity" and "slight variation".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

negligible difference

Emphasizes the smallness and unimportance of the difference.

non-significant difference

Highlights the lack of statistical significance.

minor disparity

Highlights a small difference in terms of inequality or variance.

slight variation

Focuses on the small degree of change or deviation.

subtle variation

Focuses on the understated nature of the variation.

minimal distinction

Stresses the difficulty in perceiving any difference.

marginal distinction

Indicates the difference is barely noticeable.

trivial variation

Highlights that the variation is unimportant.

nominal difference

Suggests the difference exists in name only.

immaterial distinction

Indicates the difference is not relevant or consequential.

FAQs

How can I use "insignificant difference" in a sentence?

You can use "insignificant difference" to describe a comparison where the variance is so small it does not impact the result. For example: "Despite changes to the algorithm, there was an "insignificant difference" in overall performance."

What are some alternatives to saying "insignificant difference"?

Alternatives include "negligible difference", "minor disparity", or "slight variation". The best choice depends on the specific context.

Is it better to say "statistically insignificant difference" or just "insignificant difference"?

"Statistically insignificant difference" is more precise when referring to statistical data, indicating the difference is not statistically significant. "Insignificant difference" can be used more broadly when statistical significance is not the primary concern.

What does it mean when a study reports an "insignificant difference"?

It means that the observed difference between the groups or variables being studied is not large enough to be considered meaningful or statistically significant. It suggests that the difference is likely due to chance rather than a real effect.