statistical anomaly

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "statistical anomaly" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to a data point or observation that deviates significantly from the expected pattern or trend in statistical analysis. Example: "The sudden spike in sales during the off-season was identified as a statistical anomaly that required further investigation."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

54 human-written examples

A statistical anomaly, or something more pertinent?

The Guardian - Sport

"There's no statistical anomaly here," Mr. McCarthy said.

The New York Times

A Statistical Anomaly The Assembly Democrats call themselves the defenders of poor communities and public schools.

The New York Times

Some scholars say the effect is a statistical anomaly that applies only to the American stock market.

The New York Times

"Whether this is a statistical anomaly or the beginning of a trend is unknown".

The New York Times

In what is a statistical anomaly or the beginning of a curse, Willis, Chris Carpenter and Bartolo Colón had 21 wins or more in 2005.

The New York Times

Although some teams seem to have been decimated by injuries -- the Panthers and the Dolphins, for instance -- that, too, is a statistical anomaly, Pellman said.

The New York Times

Palin mused on Facebook that "no human endeavour is ever without risk", while Texas Republican congressman John Culberson described the disaster as a "statistical anomaly".

The Guardian

In other words, the apparent generosity to high-income communities is a statistical anomaly, one that would disappear after a year.

The New York Times

Some of the Yankees view the streak as a statistical anomaly, a matter of chance unrelated to Martínez, in a sense, because he is uniformly overpowering.

The New York Times - Sports

It turned out to be a false alarm, a statistical anomaly brought on by conditions as disparate as kidney stones and asthma.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing research findings, use "statistical anomaly" to cautiously describe unexpected results that warrant further investigation before being dismissed as errors or flukes.

Common error

Avoid assuming that a "statistical anomaly" is directly caused by a specific factor without conducting thorough causal analysis. The anomaly might be coincidental or influenced by unobserved variables.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "statistical anomaly" primarily functions as a noun phrase, often serving as a subject complement or an object of a preposition. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is grammatically correct and widely used, indicating its established role in academic and professional discourse.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

64%

Science

20%

Sports

8%

Less common in

Formal & Business

4%

Opinion

2%

Business

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "statistical anomaly" is a grammatically sound and frequently used noun phrase that describes an unusual or unexpected observation in data. As verified by Ludwig AI, it is common in news, science, and sports contexts. When using this phrase, remember to investigate the anomaly rather than dismissing it outright, and avoid assuming causation without proper analysis. Considering alternatives like "data outlier" or "unusual occurrence" may be helpful depending on the specific context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Data outlier

Focuses specifically on data points that are far from others.

Aberrant data point

Emphasizes the deviation from the norm within a dataset.

Deviant observation

Focuses on the deviation from expected observations.

Unusual occurrence

Highlights the unexpected nature of an event or observation.

Exceptional case

Indicates a situation that stands out due to its rarity.

Outlier event

Similar to unusual occurrence, but emphasizes the event-like nature.

Random fluctuation

Suggests that the anomaly is due to chance variations.

Sporadic deviation

Emphasizes the infrequent nature of the deviation.

Chance peculiarity

Highlights the role of chance in the unusual result.

Singular instance

Emphasizes the uniqueness of the event or data point.

FAQs

How can I use "statistical anomaly" in a sentence?

You can use "statistical anomaly" to describe a data point or event that deviates significantly from the expected pattern. For example, "The sudden drop in temperature was considered a "statistical anomaly"."

What is an alternative to saying "statistical anomaly"?

Alternatives include "data outlier", "unusual occurrence", or "aberrant data point". The best choice depends on the specific context.

Is it appropriate to immediately dismiss a "statistical anomaly"?

No, a "statistical anomaly" should not be immediately dismissed. It warrants further investigation to determine if it's due to error, chance, or a genuine, previously unknown phenomenon.

What's the difference between a "statistical anomaly" and a "statistical error"?

A "statistical error" is a mistake in data collection or analysis. A "statistical anomaly", on the other hand, is a genuine data point that deviates significantly from the norm but isn't necessarily an error. It could indicate a real, but unusual, event.