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Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak quote

Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak

CEO of Professional Science Editing for Scientists @ prosciediting.com

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much older mean

Grammar usage guide and real-world examples

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "much older mean" is not correct in English and does not convey a clear meaning.
It seems to be an incomplete or incorrect construction, and without additional context, it is difficult to determine its intended use. Example: "The artifact is much older than we initially thought, which means it holds significant historical value."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

In this study, where study participants were much older (mean age 21.8 years) that in the Iraq GYTS, 30.9% males and 7.4% females were smokers.

However, the subjects in the SHL study were much older (mean age = 60 years) than the PVLSI and UICH patients (mean ages = 37 and 29 years, respectively).

The reason for the higher prevalence among this population could be that the study was carried out in middle-aged and elderly subjects with much older mean age (59.8 ± 9.9 years).

Furthermore, subjects in our study were much older (mean age 74.8 years) compared with a mean age of 26 years in the Pima study (18), 48.9 years for the Paris study (34), and 52.8 years for Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) study (19).

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

While our confidence interval for this estimate (36.3 to 120) does not include the value observed in the Rochester study, this might not be surprising given that the Rochester study was carried out in a much older population (mean age 65), who would therefore be more likely to have longer inpatient spells complicated by comorbidity.

16 Work by Paradise and colleagues modelled survival time from age, constructional and gait apraxia in a much older cohort (mean age 81 years).

Science

BMJ Open

Our study group is much older with a mean age of 72 at the beginning of the study.

17 However, the patients in our study were much older with a mean age of 66 years.

Science

BMJ Open

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention applies this label and considers this subset of the population as a separate group, mainly because early in the HIV epidemic, this age group was much older than the mean age of HIV-infected patients.

Although the evidence suggests Ganymede's volcanic activity is much older than Europa's, it means that at some point in the past there was definitely water there.

News & Media

The Economist

Most previous studies have involved much older patient groups than our study (mean age 58.3 64.4 years compared with 31.9 ± 9.9 years).

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Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When comparing average ages between groups, ensure clarity by specifying "average age" or "mean age" instead of using the potentially ambiguous phrase "much older mean".

Common error

Avoid using the phrase "much older mean" as it can be unclear. Instead, specify "much older average age" or rephrase to "the average age was much higher" for better clarity.

Antonio Rotolo, PhD - Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

Antonio Rotolo, PhD

Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

Source & Trust

84%

Authority and reliability

2.8/5

Expert rating

Real-world application tested

Linguistic Context

The phrase functions as an adjective phrase intended to modify a noun, presumably age, average, or population. However, as noted by Ludwig AI, it is not a standard or grammatically sound construction. It often appears in contexts where comparisons of average ages are being made.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

70%

News & Media

30%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "much older mean" is an attempt to describe a significantly higher average age, often in study populations. However, as Ludwig AI points out, it's not grammatically sound, potentially confusing, and should be avoided. Though it appears in scientific and news media sources, clearer alternatives like "significantly higher average age" or "considerably older average" are recommended. When describing age differences, precision is vital, especially in academic and professional contexts. Using these alternative phrases not only enhances clarity but also avoids potential misinterpretations.

FAQs

How can I use the concept of a much older average in a sentence correctly?

To correctly convey a much older average, you can rephrase it to "The average age was much higher" or "The mean age was significantly greater". These alternatives provide clarity and are grammatically sound.

What phrases can I use instead of "much older mean"?

Alternatives include "significantly older average", "considerably older average", or "substantially higher average age". These phrases more clearly express the intended meaning.

Is it correct to say "much older mean" in academic writing?

While the phrase might be understood, it's not grammatically ideal. In academic writing, it is better to use phrases like "significantly higher mean age" or "considerably older average age" for precision and clarity.

What does it mean when a study population has a "much older average age" compared to another?

It means that, on average, the participants in one study are significantly older than those in another study. This difference in age may be a factor when comparing the results of the two studies.

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Most frequent sentences: