the average is

USAGE SUMMARY

"the average is" is an acceptable part of a sentence in written English.
It can be used when referring to a numerical average, such as an average of numbers or ratings. Example: The average of the students' test scores was 82.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Today, the average is 11.1.

The Economist

But the average is misleading.

The Economist

The average is $1,000.

The New York Times - Sports

The average is anyway misleading.

The Economist

The average is five.

The Guardian

Today the average is about 0.5.

The New York Times - Sports

In fact, the average is 17.

The Economist

Today, the average is below three.

The Economist

But even the average is dropping.

The Economist

The average is only 1.5".

The Guardian - Sport

The average is probably 20".

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Be mindful that averages can be skewed by outliers. Consider whether the median or mode might be more appropriate measures of central tendency depending on your data.

Common error

Avoid assuming that individual instances will conform to "the average is". Averages represent a general tendency, not a guarantee for any single case.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "the average is" functions as a declarative statement to present a calculated or observed central value within a dataset or population. As Ludwig AI points out, this phrase is commonly used to convey typical quantities or characteristics. It serves to provide a summary statistic for easy understanding.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

59%

Science

21%

Formal & Business

13%

Less common in

Wiki

4%

Academia

2%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "the average is" is a widely used and grammatically sound construction for presenting typical values. Ludwig AI confirms its acceptability and prevalence across diverse sources. While most common in news and media, it finds application in science and business as well. When using this phrase, ensure clarity in what is being averaged and consider the potential impact of outliers. For more nuanced communication, explore alternatives such as "the mean is" or "the typical value is", depending on the context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

the mean value equals

Replaces "average" with "mean value" for a more statistical or mathematical connotation; uses "equals" for direct equivalence.

the typical value is

Substitutes "average" with "typical value" to emphasize commonality or representativeness.

the norm is

Emphasizes that the average represents a standard or expected behavior or value.

on average, it's

Rephrases the concept to focus on the probabilistic nature of averages.

the median is

Replaces "average" with "median", specifying a different measure of central tendency which can be more resistant to outliers.

the usual figure is

Uses "usual figure" to convey a sense of normalcy and frequency.

the going rate is

Refers specifically to prices or costs, indicating a common or standard price.

the central tendency is

Introduces a statistical term for the average value, best used in technical or academic settings.

it typically averages

Changes the structure to make "average" a verb, focusing on the process of averaging.

the most common is

Highlights the most frequently occurring value rather than the calculated average.

FAQs

How can I use "the average is" in a sentence?

Use "the average is" to state the typical value of a set of numbers or data points. For example, "The average score on the test was 75."

What are some alternatives to saying "the average is"?

Depending on the context, you could use phrases like "the mean is", "typically it is", or "the norm is".

Is it always accurate to rely on the average?

While averages provide a general overview, they can be influenced by outliers. Consider also reporting the median or mode for a more complete picture.

What's the difference between "the average is" and "the average are"?

"The average is" is used with singular nouns or uncountable nouns (e.g., "The average price is"), while "the average are" is grammatically incorrect. Always use "is" with "the average" when referring to a single calculated value.