when holding constant

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "when holding constant" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used in statistical or scientific contexts to indicate that certain variables are kept unchanged while examining the effect of other variables. Example: "The results were analyzed when holding constant the temperature and pressure to isolate the effect of concentration on the reaction rate."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

Figure 4A: Renilla luciferase (0.5 ng), Lrp5 or Lrp6 (2.5 ng), Wnt7a or Wnt7b (20 ng), Fz4 (20 ng), Gpr124 (20 ng), Reck (20 ng). Figure 4B: Renilla luciferase (0.5 ng), GFP (20 ng), Wnt7a (20 ng), Gpr124 (20 ng when held constant [right panel], or the indicated amount [left panel]), Reck (20 ng when held constant [left panel], or the indicated amount [right panel]).

eLife

However, reduced sensitivity causes the performance of direct characters to decay, leading to greater maladaptation of the direct characters when measured by holding constant other characters.

Plosone

Race/ethnicity remained significantly associated with missed appointments when single-parent status and insurance were held constant (F = 2.9, P = 0.038), whereas neither single-parent status nor insurance was significant when holding race/ethnicity constant.

Diabetes Care

Across the sub-Antarctic front community similarity was correlated with environmental distance in AMT 3 4, and with geographic distance in AMT 2. Community similarity was correlated with both environmental and geographic distance in AMT 1, but the relationship was not significant when holding matrices constant (Table 2).

Plosone

In summary, we hypothesise that home survival (not closing) is positively correlated with observed quality overall, that is, (hypothesis H1) and also when holding competition constant (hypothesis H1a).

Health Economics

We found that even when we held constant the amount of leisure time and money respondents had (as well as their age, gender, marital status, parental status and the extent to which they valued material possessions), the people who chose time over money were still happier.

The New York Times

Remark 2. We further find that is strictly concave over any convex subset of,, jointly when, are held constant.

EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking

For the middle educated, we see no significant effects among the lagged effects and the point estimates do not seem to display a systemic pattern when holding other variables constant.

IZA Journal of Development and Migration

No correlation was found between genetic and geographic distance at any level, even when holding linguistic distance constant (P > 0.359).

BMC Evolutionary Biology

We conducted a one-way ANCOVA to determine whether posttest 1 scores differed significantly by study condition when holding pretest scores constant.

CBE Life Sciences Education

Average filament length is slightly negatively correlated with our parameter angular deviation, which lets the filaments grow in similar direction, again when holding other parameters constant.

BMC Systems Biology

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "when holding constant", clearly define which variables are being held constant to avoid ambiguity in your analysis or explanation.

Common error

Avoid using "when holding constant" without explicitly stating which variables are being held constant. This can lead to confusion and weaken the clarity of your argument.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "when holding constant" functions as a conditional conjunction, introducing a condition under which a particular relationship or effect is observed. It specifies that certain variables are kept unchanged to isolate the impact of others. As Ludwig AI says, it is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Missing

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Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "when holding constant" is a grammatically correct and useful expression, primarily employed in formal and scientific writing. As Ludwig AI confirms, its purpose is to isolate the impact of specific variables by keeping others unchanged, ensuring clarity and accuracy in analysis. Since there is a lack of examples, it's hard to define authoritative sources and frequency, however, the alternative expressions provided, such as "controlling for", offer similar ways to convey this concept in various contexts. When using this phrase, it's essential to clearly specify the variables being held constant to avoid ambiguity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

controlling for other variables

This alternative uses the term "controlling" which is often used in statistical analysis.

when other factors are controlled

This version highlights the control over other factors.

keeping other variables unchanged

This option emphasizes the aspect of not changing other variables.

when all other things are equal

Classic phrasing that suggests a comparison under similar conditions.

assuming other variables are constant

This emphasizes the assumption of constancy in other variables.

with other factors being equal

This alternative uses a more concise wording to express the idea of keeping other factors unchanged.

while maintaining other parameters fixed

It stresses the action of maintaining parameters in a fixed state.

with all other factors held steady

Highlights steadiness of factors.

with other conditions remaining stable

It focuses on the stability of the conditions.

keeping all else the same

More informal but conveys the same meaning.

FAQs

How can I use "when holding constant" in a sentence?

You can use "when holding constant" to isolate the effect of one variable on another, such as: "The correlation between exercise and weight loss is significant when holding diet constant."

What does "when holding constant" mean in statistical analysis?

In statistical analysis, "when holding constant" means examining the relationship between two variables while keeping other potentially influential variables unchanged, allowing you to isolate the true effect of the independent variable.

What are some alternatives to "when holding constant"?

Alternatives include "controlling for", "keeping constant", or "with other factors being equal". The best choice depends on the specific context and desired level of formality.

Is there a difference between "when holding constant" and "controlling for"?

While similar, ""controlling for"" often implies a statistical adjustment, whereas "when holding constant" can refer to either a statistical or experimental manipulation. The context usually clarifies the specific meaning.