skewed

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "skewed" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to describe something that is distorted, biased, or not straight, often in the context of data or perspectives. Example: "The survey results were skewed due to the limited sample size, leading to inaccurate conclusions."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Film

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

The official economic watchdog says that the age structure of the latest waves of mass migration is skewed to those of working age – they are mostly coming to Britain to work or study.

The Guardian

The economy is already skewed towards the old.

The Guardian - Money

Patients were randomly divided so that neither group was skewed in terms of fitness levels.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

In local media – whose coverage is highly skewed towards the government – state officials have described the trio as "the Marriott terror cell".

The Guardian

Stories of Twitter cascades and viral news are skewed by concentrating on the tiny proportion of success stories, while audiences of mere handfuls greet millions of hopeful uploaders on to YouTube, SoundCloud and Kindle (most self-published ebooks sell fewer than 100 copies).

The Guardian - Opinion

In the caucuses, people gather at neighbourhood centres, argue on behalf of their candidates and then go off to vote, a version of democracy that is fun to watch but slightly skewed.

The Guardian

"These figures give more evidence that inequality is extreme and growing, and that economic recovery following the financial crisis has been skewed in favour of the wealthiest.

The Guardian - Business

I never thought, slumped on a couch under a festive blanket of meat, that I'd stumble on an atheistically skewed sci-fi-horror allegory, but Doctor Who delivered.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

I have a perfectly average skewed perception of myself.

The Guardian - Film

"When I saw the thing pieced together, I thought, 'Well, I'm in a different film.' " He pitched his portrayal of Daffy to the character in the book, he says, not the eventual celluloid version, skewed by big-budget demands and studio imperatives.

The Guardian - Film

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

If our movie memories weren't Hollywood-skewed, we'd think of Chronicle of the Years of Embers as a classic but, despite winning the Palme d'or in Cannes in 1975, Mohammad Lakhdar-Hamina's film has fallen into the shadows.

The Guardian - Film

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing data, use "skewed" to indicate that the distribution is not symmetrical or that certain values are over-represented. Ensure that you explain which direction the data is skewed in for clarity.

Common error

Avoid assuming that a "skewed" dataset is necessarily incorrect or biased. While skewness can indicate potential issues, it may also reflect genuine characteristics of the population being studied. Always investigate the reasons behind the skewness before drawing conclusions.

Linguistic Context

The word "skewed" primarily functions as an adjective, modifying nouns to describe something that is not straight, balanced, or accurate. As indicated by Ludwig, it often implies a distortion or bias, influencing the perception or interpretation of the modified noun.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

59%

Formal & Business

15%

Film

8%

Less common in

Lifestyle

3%

TV & Radio

3%

Opinion

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "skewed" is a versatile adjective used to describe something that deviates from a standard or expected form, often implying bias or distortion. Ludwig's analysis shows that it is grammatically correct and frequently used, particularly in news and media, to highlight imbalances or inaccurate representations. While the word itself carries a neutral register, it's important to understand the context to avoid misinterpretations. Related phrases such as "biased" and "distorted" offer alternative ways to express similar concepts, providing writers with a range of options to suit their specific needs. According to Ludwig, "skewed" is usable in written english to describe something that is distorted, biased, or not straight, often in the context of data or perspectives.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

biased

Indicates a prejudice or inclination that prevents objective judgment, directly implying a lack of neutrality.

distorted

Suggests an alteration that changes the original shape or condition, often implying a misrepresentation.

unbalanced

Highlights a lack of equilibrium or proportion, indicating that some elements are favored over others.

twisted

Implies a physical or metaphorical bending or turning, suggesting something is not straight or true.

disproportionate

Emphasizes that the relationship between things is not equal or appropriate, affecting fairness or accuracy.

warped

Similar to twisted but can also suggest a more profound alteration that affects integrity or moral standing.

deviated

Indicates a departure from a standard or norm, often used in statistical or geographical contexts.

inclined

Describes a tendency towards a particular direction or viewpoint, without necessarily implying negativity.

angled

Refers to something positioned at an angle, suggesting a non-perpendicular orientation.

asymmetrical

Denotes a lack of symmetry, where one side does not mirror the other, often in a visual or structural sense.

FAQs

How is "skewed" typically used in a sentence?

The word "skewed" is often used to describe data, results, or perspectives that are distorted or biased. For example, "The survey results were "skewed" due to the limited sample size".

What are some alternatives to using "skewed"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "biased", "distorted", or "unbalanced" instead of "skewed".

In statistics, what does it mean when data is described as "skewed"?

In statistics, "skewed" means that the data distribution is not symmetrical; instead, it's concentrated on one side. This impacts the mean and median, making them different. A biased analysis might result from the use of "skewed" data.

What's the difference between "skewed" and "distorted"?

"Skewed" often refers to a statistical imbalance or asymmetrical distribution, while "distorted" generally implies a misrepresentation or alteration of the true form or meaning. "Skewed" is also specifically used to refer to the angular position of a plane or a direction.