irrelevant figures

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "irrelevant figures" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to numerical data or statistics that do not pertain to the topic at hand or are not significant in the context being discussed. Example: "In the report, the author included several irrelevant figures that did not support the main argument."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

But he is particularly prone to bringing in foreign and irrelevant figures on no other grounds than show, as with an aside about "Elinga or Torrentius" or when he avers, for no good reason, that some words of Baudelaire "could have been those of Evagrius".

The New York Times - Books

Two totally irrelevant figures for a club that loses thousands a month but promotes a t-shirt that makes hundreds of thousands a month.

Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

According to some of the general public it is "ugly", "comparable to vomit" and features an irrelevant figure.

The Guardian - Opinion

President Kabbah, a former United Nations Development Program official, has proven to be a powerless, nearly irrelevant, figure who seldom leaves his hilltop mansion.

The New York Times

As Mr. Clinton wrote in his memoir, "After the 1994 elections, I had been ridiculed as an irrelevant figure, destined for defeat in 1996".

The New York Times

While he continues to insist on independence for Chechnya, his years of exile have made him a largely irrelevant figure there.

The New York Times

Whatever his past glories — Brand Nubian's 1990 début, "One for All," is considered a classic by some — Jamar had become a largely irrelevant figure in contemporary hip-hop.

The New Yorker

With the exception of his advocacy of the surge, in 2007, Bush became an increasingly irrelevant figure, and his foreign policy crawled away from grand projects for "world order".

The New Yorker

RCA has an "override"– it will get a small percentage of whatever money the album makes – but, as Skarendahl points out, "that's a kind of irrelevant figure, because we've got the album back: and that's bigger than any percentage".

The Guardian - Music

I tend to think of cities first and foremost in this sensual way, and to register my response to them by my transit of the urban scape; whereas for Hollis the flaneur is, presumably, a rather recondite – if not irrelevant – figure, although he professes to be a great urban walker himself.

The Guardian - Books

The stimuli were divided into two categories based on a single dimension: the inside size; the other three dimensions were irrelevant (Figure 2A).

Plosone

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing data or statistics, ensure that all figures presented are relevant to your argument or analysis. Including "irrelevant figures" can distract readers and weaken your overall message.

Common error

Avoid presenting large amounts of numerical data without clear justification. Always explain why each figure is pertinent to your analysis to prevent readers from perceiving them as "irrelevant figures".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "irrelevant figures" functions as a descriptive term, typically used to qualify nouns (people, data, items) that do not have a significant impact on the matter being discussed. According to Ludwig AI, it is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

50%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "irrelevant figures" is a grammatically sound and usable term to denote data or individuals that lack significance in a given context. While not exceedingly common, its usage spans across both journalistic and scientific domains. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is correct. To enhance writing clarity, it's crucial to ensure all included figures are pertinent and justified, averting the dilution of your message with extraneous information. Alternatives like "inconsequential data" or "unimportant statistics" offer similar meanings, adaptable to varied contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

insignificant figures

Highlights the lack of significance or importance of the figures.

inconsequential data

Focuses on the lack of consequence or impact of the figures.

unimportant statistics

Highlights the lack of importance of the statistical information.

immaterial numbers

Emphasizes that the numbers are not pertinent or relevant to the matter at hand.

peripheral numbers

Indicates that the numbers are on the edge or periphery of the main topic.

extraneous statistics

Stresses that the statistics are not essential or intrinsic to the context.

meaningless data

Focuses on the lack of meaning or significance in the data.

tangential numbers

Indicates that the numbers are only slightly related or connected.

unrelated data points

Stresses that the data points have no connection to the subject.

extraneous variables

Emphasizes that variables are not necessary to the context.

FAQs

What does "irrelevant figures" mean?

The phrase "irrelevant figures" refers to data points or statistics that are not pertinent or significant to the current topic or analysis.

When should I use the phrase "irrelevant figures"?

Use "irrelevant figures" when you want to point out that certain numerical data is not important or connected to the main subject being discussed. It's useful in analytical or critical contexts.

What are some alternatives to "irrelevant figures"?

You can use alternatives like "inconsequential data", "unimportant statistics", or "immaterial numbers" to express a similar meaning.

How can I avoid including "irrelevant figures" in my writing?

Carefully review all the data you intend to include and ask yourself if each piece of information directly supports your argument or analysis. If not, consider leaving it out.