weakly correlated

USAGE SUMMARY

'weakly correlated' is correct and perfectly acceptable in written English.
You can use it in any context when referring to two items that have a weak connection or relationship. For example, "The number of hours of sleep a person gets each night was weakly correlated to their performance on a cognitive test."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Influenza A positivity (Spearman correlation [r] = 0.25) was weakly correlated with relative humidity.

Emerging Infectious Diseases

But this "interestingness," he wrote in "Expert Political Judgment," is weakly correlated with accuracy.

The New Yorker

First, they are only weakly correlated with the LFS earnings measure.

Independent

Concentration of BHBA (r = −0.14) was weakly correlated with activity.

Journal of Dairy Science

Herbivore density was only weakly correlated to grazing impacts.

Biological Conservation

MeHg concentrations were weakly correlated with THg (r2 = 0.25) across western North America.

Science of The Total Environment

(2) Cavity volume: acorn cavity volume was weakly correlated with the size of the occupying colony.

Animal Behaviour

However, muscle fatigue weakly correlated with Body Mass Index (BMI) (r2 = 0.000144) and age (r2 = 0.033).

Applied Ergonomics

Some scientists say that scale is not even accurate, because it is only weakly correlated to kratom's actual lethal potential.

Huffington Post

Sword length is weakly correlated with fish total length (p = 0.05).

Plosone

Geographic range on the other hand appeared to be weakly correlated to phylogeny (λ = 0.08).

Plosone

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing the strength of a correlation, be specific by including the correlation coefficient (r) and p-value whenever possible. This provides quantifiable evidence for the "weakly correlated" relationship.

Common error

Avoid interpreting a "weakly correlated" relationship as causal. Just because two variables are somewhat related doesn't mean one causes the other. Always consider other potential factors and conduct further research.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "weakly correlated" functions as an adverb-verb construction used to describe the degree of correlation between two or more variables or entities. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically correct and commonly used. It modifies the verb "correlated", indicating the relationship is not strong.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

88%

News & Media

9%

Formal & Business

3%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "weakly correlated" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase, especially in scientific and academic contexts, to denote a tenuous relationship between two variables. Ludwig AI affirms its correctness and widespread applicability. While the phrase indicates some degree of association, it's crucial to avoid inferring causation. Alternatives such as "slightly associated" or "loosely related" offer similar meanings with subtle differences in emphasis. When using "weakly correlated", providing specific statistical details, such as the correlation coefficient, enhances clarity and precision, especially in formal writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Hardly correlated

Stresses the near absence of correlation.

Marginally associated

Suggests that the association is just barely present or significant.

Slightly associated

Emphasizes a minimal level of connection or association.

Faintly associated

Highlights the subtle and barely perceptible nature of the association.

Loosely related

Highlights a tenuous or flexible relationship.

Minimally related

Indicates the lowest possible degree of relationship.

Poorly linked

Focuses on the ineffectiveness or deficiency of the connection.

Scarcely linked

Emphasizes the rarity or infrequency of the connection.

Insignificantly connected

Underscores the lack of statistical significance in the relationship.

Nominally related

Suggests a relationship that exists in name only.

FAQs

How can I use "weakly correlated" in a sentence?

You can use "weakly correlated" to describe a relationship between two variables that is not strong. For example, "Test scores and attendance were "weakly correlated", suggesting that other factors influenced student performance."

What are some alternatives to "weakly correlated"?

Alternatives to "weakly correlated" include "slightly associated", "loosely related", or "marginally associated". The best choice depends on the specific context and the nuance you want to convey.

What does a "weakly correlated" relationship imply?

A "weakly correlated" relationship suggests that changes in one variable have only a small and inconsistent effect on the other. It does not imply causation, and other variables likely play a more significant role.

How is "weakly correlated" different from "strongly correlated"?

"Weakly correlated" indicates a minimal relationship, whereas "strongly correlated" suggests a close, consistent relationship. In statistical terms, a weak correlation will have a correlation coefficient close to 0, while a strong correlation will have a coefficient closer to 1 or -1.