it controls for

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "it controls for" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used in statistical or research contexts to indicate that a variable is being accounted for in an analysis to isolate the effect of another variable. Example: "The study found that the new medication was effective even when it controls for age and pre-existing conditions."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

36 human-written examples

Whereas column 3 provides an indication on the impact of unemployment misperception on wages, column 4 helps shed light on its mechanisms, as it controls for the attributes of the job the worker is matched to.

IZA Journal of Labor Policy

On its books Verizon Communications values the airwaves it controls for wireless at $48 billion.

Forbes

The strength of this design is that it controls for genetic and other familial confounds shared between twins.

Brain, Behavior, and Immunity

Covalent also has several; it controls, for example, 70% of the market for carbon brushes in electric motors.

The Economist

Their study differs from Bebchuk and Cohen's in that it controls for unobserved firm characteristics by including in the model firm fixed effects.

Columbia University

Such a study is "double-blind": it controls for both possible tendencies by comparing an active drug with an inactive "look-alike" drug.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

24 human-written examples

Does it control for cultural and language differences?

The New Yorker

It controlled for other foods and total calories.

The New York Times

It controlled for such factors as age, education, exercise, smoking, alcohol use and caffeine consumption.

University of California, Berkeley

Dice found there was no evidence of a gender pay gap, when it controlled for education and experience.

Forbes

The principal requirement of our empirical model was that it controlled for the cost of concurrent treatments.

Health Economics Review

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "it controls for", ensure that the variable being controlled is clearly identified to provide context and improve clarity.

Common error

Avoid using "it controls for" without specifying what "it" refers to and what factors are being controlled. Clarity is crucial for scientific and academic writing.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it controls for" functions as a transitive verb phrase used to indicate that a particular factor or variable has been accounted for in an analysis or experiment. Ludwig AI's examples demonstrate its use in academic and scientific contexts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

65%

News & Media

23%

Academia

12%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "it controls for" is a valuable tool in academic and scientific writing, used to clearly indicate that a study or analysis has accounted for specific variables to isolate the effect of another. According to Ludwig AI, this phrase is grammatically correct and commonly used in scientific, news, and academic contexts. When using "it controls for", ensure clarity by specifying what "it" refers to and what factors are being controlled. Alternatives such as "it accounts for" or "it adjusts for" can be used for slight variations in meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it accounts for

This alternative emphasizes the aspect of taking something into consideration or providing an explanation for it.

it takes into account

Stresses the consideration of something when making a decision or judgment.

it adjusts for

Focuses on the act of making changes to compensate for something.

it factors in

Indicates the inclusion of something as a relevant element in a calculation or analysis.

it corrects for

Highlights the action of removing errors or inaccuracies.

it regulates

Implies a more active management or governance of a process or system.

it compensates for

Emphasizes making up for a deficiency or loss.

it mitigates

Highlights the reduction or lessening of a negative impact or risk.

it offsets

Suggests a balancing or counteracting effect.

it allows for

Indicates that something makes a certain outcome possible or takes it into consideration.

FAQs

How to use "it controls for" in a sentence?

Use "it controls for" to indicate that a variable or factor is being accounted for or neutralized in an analysis or experiment. For example, "The study found a significant correlation even when "it controls for" age and education levels".

What can I say instead of "it controls for"?

You can use alternatives like "it accounts for", "it adjusts for", or "it takes into account" depending on the context.

What does "it controls for" mean in research?

In research, ""it controls for"" means that the study design or statistical analysis has accounted for the potential influence of confounding variables, isolating the effect of the variable of interest.

Is "it controls for" the same as "it controls"?

No, ""it controls for"" specifically means accounting for or neutralizing the effect of a variable, whereas "it controls" generally means having power or authority over something.