weighted average

USAGE SUMMARY

The term "weighted average" is correct and can be used in written English.
You can use it to refer to a statistical calculation that places different levels of importance (or "weights") on different data points. For example, "The professor calculated our final grade using a weighted average of our tests, assignments, and attendance."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

47 human-written examples

weight - a weighted average.

Harvard University

Includes volume, weighted average carcass weight, and base cost.

Cornell University

(That is a weighted average).

The New York Times

The weighted average is 46.3%.

The Guardian

Descriptors of mixtures were calculated as mole weighted average.

Chemometrics and Intelligent Laboratory Systems

It is right in line with G.E.'s weighted average cost of capital, according to analysts.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

13 human-written examples

TWA= Time-Weighted Average.

Princeton University

An automaker's CAFE number is a sales-weighted average of mileage for its light-vehicle fleet.

The New York Times

Equity Income's dollar-weighted average was 10.5%.

Forbes

The price represents a  32percentt premium over Xoom's three-month volume-weighted average price.

TechCrunch

And a premium of 33percentnt on Qualcomm's "unaffected 30-day volume-weighted average price".

TechCrunch

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When calculating a "weighted average", clearly define the weights and their rationale to ensure transparency and avoid misinterpretations.

Common error

Ensure that values with a weight of zero are properly accounted for. Simply omitting them can distort the "weighted average" if the weights should sum to a specific total.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "weighted average" functions as a noun phrase, where "weighted" modifies "average". It denotes a specific type of average calculation. As shown in Ludwig AI, it's used to describe a statistical method that considers the importance of each value.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

33%

Academia

19%

Less common in

Formal & Business

9%

Wiki

2%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "weighted average" is a grammatically correct and frequently used term to describe a statistical calculation where different data points are assigned varying levels of importance. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and common usage across various contexts, including science, news, academia, and business. While alternatives like "weighted mean" exist, "weighted average" is the most widely recognized and understood phrase. When using "weighted average", clearly defining the weights is crucial for accurate and transparent communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

weighted mean

Replaces "average" with "mean", another term for the same statistical concept.

weighted arithmetic mean

Adds "arithmetic" to clarify the type of mean being calculated, emphasizing the mathematical nature.

proportionate average

Highlights the idea of averaging based on proportions or relative weights.

adjusted average

Emphasizes that the average has been modified or corrected based on certain factors.

blended average

Suggests a combining or mixing of values to create the average.

composite average

Implies an average that's constructed from multiple components, each contributing differently.

weighted composite score

Emphasizes that the composite score is constructed based on different weights.

weighted sum

Focuses on the process of summing values after they've been multiplied by their weights.

allocated average

Indicates an average where values have been distributed or assigned weights.

customized average

Highlights the idea that the average is tailored to specific criteria or weights.

FAQs

How does a "weighted average" differ from a simple average?

A simple average gives equal importance to each value, while a "weighted average" assigns different weights to each value, reflecting their relative importance. For example, in calculating a grade, a final exam might have a higher weight than a quiz.

When is it appropriate to use a "weighted average"?

Use a "weighted average" when some data points are more significant or reliable than others. This is common in finance, academics, and any situation where certain inputs should have a greater impact on the final result.

What are some common applications of the "weighted average"?

The "weighted average" is used in various fields, including calculating grade point averages (GPA), portfolio returns in finance, and cost of goods sold (COGS) in accounting. It provides a more accurate representation than a simple average in these scenarios.

What is an alternative to using "weighted average"?

Depending on the context, you could use terms like "weighted mean" or "proportionate average" if you need to avoid using the exact phrase. However, "weighted average" is the most common and widely understood term.