margin of error

USAGE SUMMARY

"margin of error" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It is typically used to refer to the amount of acceptable error that is allowed in a scientific study or poll. For example, "The margin of error for this study is plus or minus 3 percentage points."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

ZERO margin of error".

The New Yorker

The margin of error is surprisingly wide.

The New Yorker

The Republicans have little margin of error.

The New York Times

"It's within the margin of error".

The New York Times

Is there a margin of error?

Independent

Polls have a margin of error (duh).

The New York Times

The average margin of error is 3%.

The Economist

(The margin of error is 4 percent).

The New York Times

(Margin of error: 3.5 percent).

The New York Times

The margin of error was tiny.

The Guardian - Sport

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

So there's a smaller margin of error..

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When reporting survey results, always include the "margin of error" to provide context for the findings.

Common error

Avoid assuming that results outside the stated "margin of error" are automatically invalid. The "margin of error" provides a range of likely values, but doesn't guarantee that values outside that range are impossible.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "margin of error" functions as a noun phrase, typically used to quantify the uncertainty associated with statistical estimates or measurements. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage in contexts requiring precision and transparency.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Science

20%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Encyclopedias

1%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "margin of error" is a commonly used noun phrase that quantifies the uncertainty in statistical estimates, especially in polls and surveys. As Ludwig AI confirms, its usage is grammatically correct and essential for interpreting data accurately. The most frequent contexts for this phrase are in news and media, science, and formal business settings. To ensure accurate writing, always include the "margin of error" when reporting survey results and avoid interpreting results outside the stated "margin of error" as automatically invalid. Alternatives to consider are phrases like "degree of uncertainty" or "range of imprecision", offering nuanced ways to discuss data reliability.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

degree of uncertainty

Focuses on the uncertainty inherent in a measurement or estimate, rather than a specific range of potential error.

statistical uncertainty

Highlights that the uncertainty is due to statistical variations.

range of imprecision

Emphasizes the lack of exactness in a result or measurement.

potential for inaccuracy

Indicates that there's a possibility the results may not be perfectly accurate.

level of precision

Emphasizes on the degree to which repeated measurements show the same results.

confidence interval width

Highlights the statistical range within which a true value is expected to lie.

scope for deviation

Highlights the extent to which actual results may stray from expected or predicted results.

acceptable error rate

Specifies the level of error that is considered tolerable for a given application.

room for divergence

Suggests there's an allowed range where results may differ.

measurement error

Broader term that refers to any error present in a measurement, without quantifying it.

FAQs

What does "margin of error" mean in statistics?

In statistics, the "margin of error" expresses the amount of random sampling error in a survey's results. A smaller "margin of error" indicates higher precision in the survey results.

How do you calculate the "margin of error"?

The "margin of error" is typically calculated using the standard deviation of the sample, the sample size, and the desired confidence level. There are online calculators and statistical formulas to assist in this calculation.

What is a good "margin of error" for a poll?

A "good" "margin of error" depends on the context and the desired level of precision. Generally, a "margin of error" of +/- 3% is considered acceptable for many polls, but this can vary based on the specific needs of the study.

How does sample size affect the "margin of error"?

Increasing the sample size generally reduces the "margin of error", because a larger sample is more likely to accurately represent the entire population. Conversely, a smaller sample size increases the "margin of error".