while not significant

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "while not significant" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something is not important or does not have a major impact in a given context. Example: "The results of the study showed some differences in the data, while not significant, they suggest a trend worth exploring further."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

47 human-written examples

Additionally, while not significant, interburst interval for the bECM group decreased over time; whereas both PDL and MaxGel groups remained consistent (Fig. 3f).

Nature

However, this positive impact of innovation is statistically significant only for firms in the high-tech manufacturing sectors, while not significant in low-tech manufacturing and services.

Research Policy

While not significant and highly variable, ChABC treatment to remove GAG increased the circumferential shear modulus compared to PBS control (p= 0.15).

Journal of the Mechanical Behavior of Biomedical Materials

While not significant on a competitive basis ­ the second-place "World News" on ABC still attracts two million more viewers than CBS every night ­ the numbers probably heartened the staff of the news division.

The New York Times

While not significant, both suicidal and nonsuicidal self-injury are slightly elevated among females.

Health & Justice

While not significant, in the highest frequencies (0.16 0.08 Hz) the amplitude of the resting activity was slightly higher in the left attention network (p = 0.07) and in the right attention network (p = 0.059) in MWA as compared to healthy controls.

The Journal of Headache and Pain

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

13 human-written examples

However, while marginally not significant, taxonomic distinctness was higher in high northern latitudes (Northeast Pacific) in 16x intertidal assemblages (Fig. 7a, Table 2).

Plosone

We found both correlation coefficients to be around 0.1 for German and Spanish, while they are not significant for English.

EPJ Data Science

(P = 0.035) while differences were not significant in the younger group (P = 0.297).

Plosone

This difference in frequency, while large, was not significant (χ1 = 3.78 n.s).s

BMC Genomics

Altered p53 expression closely approached significance (P=0.064), while pRb alteration was not significant (P=0.150).

British Journal of Cancer

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "while not significant", ensure that you clearly state what you are referring to and provide context for why it is not significant. For instance, "While not significant, the trend suggests a possible correlation that warrants further investigation."

Common error

Avoid the common mistake of assuming that "while not significant" means there is absolutely no effect. It simply means that the observed effect is not statistically distinguishable from random chance, and a trend may still be present. Do not write, "Since the results were not significant, it means there was no change."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "while not significant" functions as an adverbial clause that modifies a main clause. It acknowledges the existence of something, such as a trend or difference, but indicates that it lacks statistical significance. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is grammatical and usable.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

84%

News & Media

8%

Formal & Business

4%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "while not significant" is a grammatically correct and commonly used phrase, particularly in scientific and formal writing. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is appropriate for acknowledging trends or observations that lack statistical significance. While not interchangeable with phrases implying "no effect", it serves to provide context and prevent overinterpretation of data. Be sure to use it appropriately in scientific documents.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

although not statistically significant

This alternative explicitly mentions the statistical aspect, making it suitable for scientific or data-driven contexts.

though the effect was negligible

This phrase focuses on the size of the effect, implying it is too small to be important.

even if the result is inconsequential

This alternative highlights that the outcome is unimportant despite its existence.

notwithstanding its lack of importance

This version uses a more formal tone and emphasizes the unimportance of the matter.

despite the minimal impact

This phrase directly addresses the limited influence or effect of something.

albeit the findings were unsubstantial

This option implies the results were too weak to be of any real value.

even though it lacks prominence

This alternative underlines the absence of standing out or being noticeable.

while the alteration remains trivial

This variant stresses the insignificance and small nature of any changes observed.

though the difference is immaterial

This phrase conveys that the distinction does not matter or have any real consequence.

even if it's empirically unsubstantiated

This emphasizes that there is no experimental or factual data to support a claim.

FAQs

What does "while not significant" mean in research?

In research, "while not significant" means that the results or differences observed are not statistically significant. This implies that the observed effect could be due to random chance, rather than a true underlying relationship. However, it doesn't necessarily mean there is no effect at all.

How to use "while not significant" in a sentence?

You can use "while not significant" to acknowledge an observation or trend that isn't statistically meaningful. For example, "While not significant, the increase in sales during the holiday season suggests a potential area for marketing investment."

What are some alternatives to "while not significant"?

Alternatives to "while not significant" include phrases like "although not statistically significant", "though the effect was negligible", or "despite the minimal impact", depending on the specific context.

Is it incorrect to mention something that is "while not significant" in a research paper?

No, it is not incorrect. It is often useful to mention non-significant findings, especially if they suggest a trend or have implications for future research. However, it is important to clearly state that the results are not statistically significant and avoid overinterpreting them.