not significant

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "not significant" is grammatically correct and can be used in written English.
It means that something is not important or relevant to the overall meaning or purpose of a sentence. Example: The small spelling error in his essay was not significant enough to affect his overall grade.

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

= not significant.

Nature

not significant.

Nature

– not significant.

Nature

"It's not significant.

The New York Times

That is not significant.

The New York Times - Sports

Age is not significant.

The New York Times

This is not significant.

Cornell University

NS, not significant.

Nature

NS = not significant.

Nature

ns = not significant.

Nature

N.S. indicates "not significant".

Nature

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When presenting statistical data, use "not significant" to clearly indicate results that do not meet the threshold for statistical significance, preventing misinterpretation.

Common error

Avoid assuming that a statistically "not significant" result automatically means there is no real-world effect. Statistical insignificance might stem from a small sample size or high variability, not necessarily the absence of a tangible impact.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "not significant" functions as an adjective phrase that modifies a noun or concept, indicating that it lacks importance or statistical relevance. Ludwig AI confirms that it follows standard grammar rules and is suitable for written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

60%

News & Media

20%

Academia

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "not significant" is a grammatically correct and very common way to express that something lacks importance or statistical relevance. As Ludwig AI confirms, it adheres to standard grammatical rules and appears frequently in scientific, academic, and news contexts. The phrase is particularly useful in research to report findings that did not meet the threshold for statistical significance. When using "not significant", be mindful of the potential for misinterpreting statistical insignificance as practical irrelevance. Instead of "not significant", you could also consider alternatives such as "inconsequential", "negligible", or "unimportant", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

unimportant

Directly states the lack of importance.

inconsequential

Emphasizes a lack of importance or impact.

negligible

Highlights that something is so small or unimportant it can be disregarded.

irrelevant

Highlights that something is not connected or applicable to the matter at hand.

of little consequence

Emphasizes the lack of significant effect or outcome.

immaterial

Suggests something is irrelevant or not pertinent to the situation.

trivial

Suggests something is of little value or importance.

minor

Indicates something is small in scale or impact.

of no account

Highlights that something is unworthy of consideration or attention.

beside the point

Indicates something is not relevant to the current discussion or issue.

FAQs

How is "not significant" used in scientific writing?

In scientific contexts, "not significant" indicates that the results of a study did not reach statistical significance, meaning the observed effect could be due to chance. It's crucial to report this finding accurately to avoid misleading interpretations.

What are some alternatives to saying "not significant"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives such as "inconsequential", "negligible", or "unimportant" to convey a similar meaning.

Is it appropriate to use "not significant" in formal business communication?

Yes, "not significant" is appropriate in formal business communication when discussing data or results that do not have a substantial impact. Ensure the language aligns with the overall tone of the communication.

What does it mean when a statistical test result is "not significant"?

A "not significant" result suggests that there is insufficient evidence to reject the null hypothesis. This doesn't necessarily mean the null hypothesis is true, but rather that the study didn't provide enough proof to support an alternative explanation.