problematic to correlate

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "problematic to correlate" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing difficulties or challenges in establishing a relationship or connection between two or more variables or concepts. Example: "The data from the two studies were collected under different conditions, making it problematic to correlate their findings."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

The measurements in this study, unavoidably, are averages across all cells of the embryo, so it is problematic to correlate a change in gene expression with a lack of change in chromatin modifications: these may be occurring in different cells.

eLife

It is thus problematic to correlate the defined "true in vivo wear" obtained by CMM with radiographic measurements of wear that include both articulate and backside wear, and it becomes even more complicated when the first postoperative period is excluded because of theories of creep (Hui et al. 2003).

Acta Orthopaedica

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

The use of indicator plants to monitor O3 pollution has proven problematic when trying to correlate the severity of injury to ambient O3 concentration.

Botanical Studies

The use of indicator plants to monitor air pollutants has proven problematic when trying to correlate the severity of injury to ambient O3 concentration (Heck et al. 1966; Larsen et al. 1993).

Botanical Studies

Often, Brown says, archaeologists excavating sites with few cultural artifacts use radiocarbon dates to guess which culture they are dealing with, thus creating a "circular process" that could make the team's attempts to correlate culture and climate "problematic".

Science Magazine

Cognitive decline has been shown to correlate with factors that are important for the quality of life, such as the occurrence and severity of problematic behaviours [ 33] and activities of daily living [ 34].

BMC Geriatrics

"We seem to correlate that with success and achievement.

The New York Times - Sports

The homicide rate appears to correlate with Presidential approval ratings.

The New Yorker

Wealth and philanthropy tend to correlate.

The New York Times

Geography also continued to correlate with deaths.

The Guardian

It appears to correlate with social background. .

Vice

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the phrase "problematic to correlate", clearly specify the variables or concepts you are attempting to relate to avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid implying a causal relationship when you only observe a correlation. Just because two things are "problematic to correlate" does not mean one causes or prevents the other; it simply means a relationship is difficult to establish.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "problematic to correlate" functions as an adjective phrase, describing the difficulty or challenges associated with establishing a correlation between two or more variables. Ludwig examples highlight its use in scientific and analytical contexts.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

50%

News & Media

50%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "problematic to correlate" is used to describe situations where establishing a clear correlation between two or more variables is difficult or unreliable. Ludwig AI indicates that this phrase is grammatically correct. Usage is relatively infrequent. The phrase is suitable for academic or professional contexts, signaling a need for caution when drawing conclusions based on observed relationships. Remember to specify the variables being related when using the phrase, and avoid implying causation based solely on correlation. Alternatives include "difficult to associate" and "challenging to relate".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

difficult to associate

Emphasizes the difficulty in making an association or connection.

challenging to relate

Highlights the challenging aspect of finding a relationship or correspondence.

hard to link

Focuses on the challenge of creating a link or relationship between items.

troublesome to connect

Indicates that connecting the items causes trouble or difficulty.

complex to interrelate

Suggests a complex process is required to establish a relationship.

not easily comparable

Emphasizes the difficulty in making a fair comparison due to inherent differences.

inconsistent to reconcile

Highlights inconsistencies that make reconciliation or correlation difficult.

unreliable to equate

Focuses on the unreliability of considering the items equal or directly related.

tenuous to tie together

Suggests that the connection between items is weak or unsubstantiated.

speculative to infer

Indicates that any inference or correlation would be based on speculation rather than evidence.

FAQs

What does "problematic to correlate" mean?

It means there are difficulties or challenges in establishing a clear relationship or connection between two or more things.

When is it appropriate to use the phrase "problematic to correlate"?

Use it when discussing data, studies, or concepts where finding a meaningful relationship is difficult or unreliable. For instance, you might say "It is "difficult to associate" certain symptoms with a specific disease due to overlapping factors".

What are some alternatives to "problematic to correlate"?

Alternatives include phrases like "hard to link", "challenging to relate", or "difficult to associate". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to say "difficult to correlate" or "problematic to correlate"?

Both are grammatically correct and convey a similar meaning. "Difficult to correlate" is perhaps more common and straightforward, while "problematic to correlate" emphasizes the troublesome nature of establishing a correlation.