mean value

USAGE SUMMARY

"mean value" is a correct and usable part of a sentence in written English.
It can be used to refer to the average or middle value when referring to a set of numbers or other data. For example, "The mean value of the group's reaction time was 3.5 seconds."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The mean value was calculated.

Nature

Returns mean value + one standard deviation.

Stanford University

Interpolation, including barycentric and mean value coordinates.

University of California, Berkeley

mean The mean value of the array.

Harvard University

Displayed are mean value and s.d.

Nature

Mean value of oral bioavailability was 123.25%.

Research in Veterinary Science

Smale's mean value conjecture and finite Blaschke products.

Harvard University

Mean value coordinates in two and three dimensions.

University of California, Berkeley

The mean value is used to clip the light curve.

Harvard University

[16] Mean value theorem.

Boundary Value Problems

value Mean value Std.

Geoenvironmental Disasters

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

In scientific writing, it is often useful to report both the "mean value" and a measure of variability, such as the standard deviation, to fully describe the data.

Common error

Avoid using "mean value" interchangeably with the median. The mean is the average, while the median is the middle value. In skewed distributions, the median may be a more representative measure of central tendency.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "mean value" functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as the subject or object of a sentence. It refers to the average or central tendency of a dataset, a concept supported by Ludwig's examples across various scientific and academic publications.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

68%

Academia

25%

Formal & Business

2%

Less common in

News & Media

3%

Encyclopedias

1%

Wiki

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "mean value" is a grammatically sound and highly prevalent noun phrase, particularly within scientific and academic writing. It effectively communicates the average or central tendency of a dataset. As confirmed by Ludwig, its usage is widespread and its meaning is well-established. While alternatives such as "average" exist, "mean value" maintains a level of formality suitable for technical contexts. When using this phrase, ensure accurate calculation and clear contextualization with appropriate units and variability measures.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

average

This is a shorter, more common synonym that often replaces "mean value" in general contexts.

average value

Reorders the words but retains essentially the same meaning and is often interchangeable.

statistical mean

Emphasizes the statistical context, suitable for technical or analytical discussions.

arithmetic mean

More specific term emphasizing the calculation method, particularly useful in mathematical or statistical discussions.

numerical average

Highlights the numerical aspect of the average, useful when contrasting with other types of averages.

central tendency

Focuses on the concept of a typical or representative value in a dataset, rather than the calculation itself.

population mean

Refers to the mean of an entire population, often used in statistical inference.

expected value

Common in probability and statistics, referring to the anticipated average outcome of a random variable.

typical value

Emphasizes the representative nature of the value, less formal and more descriptive.

midpoint

Refers to the exact middle point of a range of values, applicable when distribution is symmetrical.

FAQs

How do I use "mean value" in a sentence?

The "mean value" is typically used to describe the average of a set of numbers. For example, "The "mean value" of test scores was 75."

What's the difference between "mean value" and average?

"Mean value" and "average value" are often used interchangeably, but "mean value" is more commonly used in statistical or scientific contexts.

When should I use "mean value" versus median?

Use "mean value" when you want to represent the typical value of a dataset. If the data is skewed or has outliers, the "median value" might be a better representation.

What are some alternatives to "mean value"?

Depending on the context, you can use terms like "average", "arithmetic mean", or "central tendency" instead of "mean value".