ranged by a factor of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "ranged by a factor of" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing variations or differences in measurements, values, or quantities, often in a scientific or statistical context. Example: "The results of the experiment ranged by a factor of ten, indicating significant variability in the data."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science & Research

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Indeed, in the latest Global Mercury Assessment, by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the estimate of annual emissions ranged by a factor of 4. This research "helps to fill some of the many holes in our understanding of mercury flows historically," says Peter Maxson, a consultant based in Brussels who advises the European Commission, UNEP, and others on mercury issues.

Science Magazine

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

RN is also variable across seed plants, ranging by a factor of 250 between Liriodendron and S. noctiflora (Table 1).

BMC Evolutionary Biology

The average Na column abundance is 3.9 × 10 atoms cm 2, ranging by a factor of 20 from 0.3 × 10 to 7.4 × 10 atoms cm 2 depending on the time and location.

Chemical Reviews

Since retroreflectors were initially placed during the Apollo missions, the ground stations improved the ranging accuracy by a factor of 200 and now the Apollo-era arrays on the Moon pose a significant limitation to the ranging accuracy.

Planetary and Space Science

The more complex drag model [14] underestimates these ranges by a factor of two or more (e.g., only 0.7 m for P. klenii).

Plosone

Hence, the cholesterol adduct appeared to increase Hh range by a factor of 2. Inexplicably, the expression range of the other Hh target Collier (Col) was unaffected.

Biology Open

Mean percent of adults who were smokers in 2008 (CDC, 2014c) in the 16 states were analyzed for outliers, at the state level, using the method that: a) multiplies the inter-quartile range by a factor of 1.5, and then b) calculates lower and upper limits ("fences").

Dose-Response

We find that the TH of the bare gold changes in the considered wavelength range by about a factor of 3 when comparing it to the TH we obtain from a bare fused silica substrate (see Figure S4).

ACS Photonics

Population II stars have considerably lower abundances of the heavy elements by amounts ranging from a factor of 5 or 10 up to a factor of several hundred.

Encyclopedia Britannica

For the tools we tested, predicted whole-house energy bills ranged widely (by nearly a factor of three), and far more so at the end-use level.

Energy and Buildings

The extent of these size ranges differs by about a factor of two.

Earth, Planets and Space

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "ranged by a factor of", ensure that you clearly define what is being measured and the units of measurement. This provides context and prevents ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "ranged by a factor of" without clearly stating the base value from which the range is calculated. Without this, the statement becomes meaningless. For instance, specify "ranged from X to Y, a factor of Z".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "ranged by a factor of" functions as a quantifier, specifying the extent of variation or difference between two values. Ludwig examples demonstrate its use in scientific contexts to describe variability in data, as confirmed by Ludwig AI.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

100%

Less common in

News & Media

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "ranged by a factor of" is a grammatically correct quantifier used to describe the scale of variation, primarily found in formal and scientific contexts. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage. While related phrases like "varied by a multiplier of" exist, understanding the base value is crucial for accurate interpretation. Given its infrequent usage outside specialized domains, consider the audience and context to see if the phrase is appropriate in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

varied by a multiplier of

This alternative replaces "ranged" with "varied" and "factor" with "multiplier", emphasizing the multiplicative nature of the difference.

differed by a magnitude of

This alternative uses "differed" instead of "ranged" and "magnitude" instead of "factor", focusing on the scale of the difference.

fluctuated by a proportion of

This alternative replaces "ranged" with "fluctuated" and "factor" with "proportion", highlighting the changing nature of the difference.

extended across a scale of

This alternative uses "extended" to indicate the spread and "scale" to represent the range of variation.

spanned an interval of

This alternative uses "spanned" to denote the extent and "interval" to describe the range.

showed a variation of

This option focuses on the variation itself, quantifying it with the same "factor of" construct.

exhibited a range of

Replaces "ranged by" with "exhibited a range", focusing on the existence of a range defined by a factor.

oscillated within limits of

Highlights the back-and-forth movement within certain limits, replacing the static "range" with a dynamic "oscillation".

diverged with a coefficient of

This option implies a separation or deviation, quantified by a "coefficient".

displayed a dispersion of

Replaces "ranged by" with "displayed a dispersion", which is more commonly used in statistical contexts to indicate the spread of data.

FAQs

How can I use "ranged by a factor of" in a sentence?

Use "ranged by a factor of" to indicate the extent of variation between the lowest and highest values in a set of data. For example, "The experimental results "ranged by a factor of" ten, indicating significant variability."

What are some alternatives to "ranged by a factor of"?

Alternatives include "varied by a multiplier of", "differed by a magnitude of", or "fluctuated by a proportion of", depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

Is it more appropriate to use "varied by a factor of" or "ranged by a factor of"?

Both phrases are acceptable, but "varied by a factor of" might be slightly more common in general usage, while "ranged by a factor of" emphasizes the spectrum between two extremes.

What does it mean when something "ranged by a factor of" a certain number?

It means the highest value is that number times the lowest value. If something ranged by a factor of 2, the maximum value was twice the minimum value.