on average

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "on average" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to indicate a general or typical amount, level, or value calculated from a set of data. Example: "On average, students who study regularly perform better on exams than those who do not."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

On average.

The Guardian

Analysts on average forecast $2.45.

The New York Times

On average, C.E.O.

The New York Times

On average, money is not the problem.

The New York Times

Aren't they relatively wealthy on average?

The Economist

On average they have eight years' experience.

The New York Times

That took eight weeks on average.

The Economist

"On average, our data refuted that.

The New Yorker

Analysts estimated 21 cents on average.

The New York Times

Investors, on average, put in $40,000.

The New York Times

On average, this process takes two minutes.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "on average" to present statistical data or general tendencies. Make sure the data you're referencing is from a reliable and representative sample.

Common error

Avoid using "on average" when the data has extreme outliers. Averages can be misleading if the distribution is skewed; consider using the median instead.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "on average" functions as an adverbial phrase. It modifies a verb or clause by indicating that a statement is generally true based on a statistical mean, as shown in Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

43%

Science

30%

Encyclopedias

2%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "on average" is a commonly used adverbial phrase that indicates a general or typical value derived from a set of data. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and widespread usage across various contexts, including news, science, and encyclopedias. While it's a versatile phrase, it's important to be mindful of the potential for misleading representations, especially in datasets with extreme outliers. Alternatives like "typically" or "generally" can be used depending on the specific context. Considering it's a high frequency phrase, this entry provides useful writing tips, common errors, and frequently asked questions about "on average".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

on average basis

Adds redundancy by including "basis", but retains the core meaning.

the mean

Refers to the statistical average, which can be more technical.

typically

Replaces the entire phrase with a single adverb indicating common occurrence.

generally

Similar to 'typically', but implies a broader sense of regularity.

in general

Emphasizes the overall trend rather than a precise calculation.

ordinarily

Implies that something happens in the usual course of events.

as a rule

Suggests a common pattern or tendency rather than a calculated mean.

for the most part

Indicates that something is true in most cases, but not necessarily all.

by and large

Implies a broad generalization, often with minor exceptions.

on most occasions

Focuses on the frequency of occurrence in different situations.

FAQs

How to use "on average" in a sentence?

The phrase "on average" is used to indicate a typical or general value calculated from a set of data. For example, "On average, students who study regularly perform better on exams."

What can I say instead of "on average"?

You can use alternatives like "typically", "generally", or "in general" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "on average" or "in average"?

"On average" is the correct and idiomatic phrase. "In average" is not standard English.

What's the difference between "on average" and "the average"?

"On average" is an adverbial phrase used to describe a general tendency or typical value, whereas "the average" is a noun phrase referring to a specific calculated value (the mean).