to adjust for

USAGE SUMMARY

"to adjust for" is a grammatically correct and commonly used phrase in written English.
It means to make changes or modifications to accommodate for something. Example: The researchers had to adjust for the differences in age and gender among the study participants to ensure accurate results. In this sentence, "adjust for" means to consider and make adjustments to account for the variations in age and gender among the participants.

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

We used a Bonferroni adjustment to adjust for multiple comparisons.

BMC Geriatrics

A Bonferroni adjustment was used to adjust for multiplicity [ 26].

Health and Quality of Life Outcomes

Propensity score adjustment was performed to adjust for potential confounders.

Cancer Medicine

Economists try to adjust for this.

The Economist

The brackets change each year to adjust for inflation.

The New York Times

But it is not impossible to adjust for such differences.

The New York Times

The accompanying charts attempt to adjust for those changes.

The New York Times

They allow pollsters to adjust for faulty memories.

The Economist

Another strategy to adjust for the propensity score is weighting.

Large-scale Assessments in Education

Tukey's method was used to adjust for multiple pairwise comparisons.

Intensive Care Medicine Experimental

The other modification is to adjust for dividends.

Forbes

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "to adjust for" in scientific writing, clearly specify the variables or factors being adjusted and the method used for adjustment to ensure transparency and reproducibility.

Common error

Avoid using "to adjust for" without specifying how the adjustment was made. Always provide details on the statistical method or process used, such as regression analysis or Bonferroni correction, to maintain clarity and rigor in your writing.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "to adjust for" primarily functions as an infinitive phrase indicating purpose. It highlights the intent to make alterations or corrections in order to account for specific factors or variables. Examples on Ludwig illustrate its use in scientific studies and news articles.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

70%

News & Media

20%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "to adjust for" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase that signifies making changes to accommodate or account for specific factors. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is widely accepted and used across a diverse range of contexts, but is particularly prevalent in scientific and news-related domains. To ensure clarity in writing, always specify the method or variables when using this phrase. Alternatives such as "to account for", "to compensate for", and "to allow for" offer subtle variations in meaning. Remember, precision and detail are crucial when employing "to adjust for" in formal writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

to account for

This alternative emphasizes including something in a calculation or explanation.

to compensate for

This suggests counterbalancing or offsetting something.

to allow for

This implies making provisions or taking something into consideration.

to correct for

This focuses on rectifying or removing errors.

to modify for

This highlights the act of making changes to suit a specific purpose.

to calibrate for

This implies making precise adjustments to ensure accuracy.

to accommodate for

This stresses making room or provision for something.

to factor in

This emphasizes including something as a relevant element in calculations.

to take into account

This means to consider something when making a decision.

to make allowance for

This suggests permitting or tolerating something.

FAQs

How do I use "to adjust for" in a sentence?

Use "to adjust for" when you want to indicate that you are making changes or corrections to account for certain factors. For example, "The data was weighted to adjust for survey design."

What are some alternatives to "to adjust for"?

You can use alternatives like "to account for", "to compensate for", or "to allow for" depending on the context.

When is it necessary to "adjust for" confounding variables?

It's necessary to adjust for confounding variables when these variables can influence both the independent and dependent variables, leading to spurious associations. Statistical techniques such as regression analysis can help adjust for these confounders.

What is the Bonferroni correction, and when should I use it to "adjust for" multiple comparisons?

The Bonferroni correction is a method used to adjust for multiple comparisons in statistical tests. It reduces the risk of Type I errors (false positives) by dividing the significance level (alpha) by the number of comparisons being made. Use it when performing multiple hypothesis tests on the same dataset.