The standard deviation was
Research methodology and reporting expression
Use this phrase to report data spread and show your analysis is precise and professional.
15초 만에
- Reports how much data varies from the average.
- Essential for academic papers and professional business reports.
- Follows the 'mean' to provide context on data consistency.
뜻
This phrase is used to report how much a set of data points varies or 'spreads out' from the average. It tells your reader if your results were very similar or widely different.
주요 예문
3 / 6Writing a university research paper
The average participant age was 24, and the standard deviation was 2.1 years.
The average participant age was 24, and the standard deviation was 2.1 years.
Presenting a quarterly sales report
Monthly revenue was stable; the standard deviation was only five hundred dollars.
Monthly revenue was stable; the standard deviation was only five hundred dollars.
Texting a fellow data-nerd friend about a workout
My lap times were so consistent today! The standard deviation was practically zero.
My lap times were so consistent today! The standard deviation was practically zero.
문화적 배경
The phrase reflects the 'Age of Data' where quantifying human behavior is standard. It originated in late 19th-century statistics but is now a global requirement for any credible scientific or business report. In English-speaking corporate environments, using this phrase signals that you are analytically minded and detail-oriented.
The 'SD' Shortcut
In tables or charts, you don't need the whole phrase. Just use `SD` or the Greek letter sigma (σ) to save space.
Don't forget the Mean
Reporting a standard deviation without the average (mean) is like saying 'I live 5 miles away' without saying from where. It needs context!
15초 만에
- Reports how much data varies from the average.
- Essential for academic papers and professional business reports.
- Follows the 'mean' to provide context on data consistency.
What It Means
Imagine you and your friends all take a test. If everyone gets exactly 80%, there is zero variation. But if some get 60% and others get 100%, the scores are spread out. The standard deviation was is the formal way to introduce the number that measures this spread. It tells us if the 'average' is a good representation of the whole group. A low number means everyone was close to the average. A high number means the data was all over the place. It is the 'consistency meter' for your data.
How To Use It
You almost always use this phrase right after mentioning the 'mean' or average. You are giving the reader the full picture of your findings. For example, you might say, 'The average height was 170cm, and the standard deviation was 5cm.' This shows that most people were very close to 170cm. In writing, you often see it abbreviated as SD in parentheses. However, when speaking or writing formally, using the full phrase sounds much more professional. It acts as a bridge between your main result and its reliability.
When To Use It
This is a staple of academic writing and professional reporting. Use it when presenting survey results to your boss. Use it in a university thesis or a scientific paper. It is perfect for any situation where you need to prove you have analyzed your data deeply. If you are a fitness enthusiast tracking your run times, you might use it to show how consistent your pace is. It belongs in the world of facts, figures, and evidence.
When NOT To Use It
Do not use this in casual, emotional, or non-data-driven conversations. If you tell a friend, 'My love for you is great, and the standard deviation was low,' they will think you are a robot. It is also unnecessary when the data set is too small to matter. Avoid using it if you haven't actually calculated the math. Using it as a 'fancy' way to say 'variation' in a normal chat feels forced. Keep it for the boardroom or the classroom.
Cultural Background
In Western academic and business culture, there is a huge emphasis on 'evidence-based' claims. We love numbers because they feel objective and trustworthy. The term itself comes from 19th-century statistics, popularized by Karl Pearson. Today, it has leaked into 'hacker' culture and 'quantified self' movements. People who track their sleep, calories, or stocks use this language to feel in control of their lives. It represents the modern obsession with precision and data.
Common Variations
You might hear people say The SD was... or The data showed a standard deviation of.... In more descriptive contexts, you could say The results deviated by.... Another common one is The standard deviation reached... if the number is surprisingly high. If you want to be very concise, you can use with a standard deviation of. All of these serve the same goal: showing the spread.
사용 참고사항
This is a high-level (C1) academic and professional expression. It requires a formal register and is almost exclusively used in contexts involving data analysis, research, or technical reporting.
The 'SD' Shortcut
In tables or charts, you don't need the whole phrase. Just use `SD` or the Greek letter sigma (σ) to save space.
Don't forget the Mean
Reporting a standard deviation without the average (mean) is like saying 'I live 5 miles away' without saying from where. It needs context!
Sounding 'Smart'
Native speakers sometimes use this phrase specifically to sound more intellectual or 'scientific' during debates.
예시
6The average participant age was 24, and the standard deviation was 2.1 years.
The average participant age was 24, and the standard deviation was 2.1 years.
This is the classic academic use, providing a precise measure of age range.
Monthly revenue was stable; the standard deviation was only five hundred dollars.
Monthly revenue was stable; the standard deviation was only five hundred dollars.
Used here to emphasize consistency in business performance.
My lap times were so consistent today! The standard deviation was practically zero.
My lap times were so consistent today! The standard deviation was practically zero.
A slightly nerdy but casual way to brag about athletic consistency.
I tried to chart your mood today, but the standard deviation was off the charts!
I tried to chart your mood today, but the standard deviation was off the charts!
Humorous use of technical language to describe someone's erratic behavior.
While the drug worked, the standard deviation was too high to claim total success.
While the drug worked, the standard deviation was too high to claim total success.
Used to express caution or concern about inconsistent results.
Most customers were happy, though the standard deviation was higher in the rural group.
Most customers were happy, though the standard deviation was higher in the rural group.
Identifies a specific group where opinions varied more than others.
셀프 테스트
Complete the sentence for a formal lab report.
The mean temperature remained at 37°C, and the ___ ___ ___ 0.5 degrees.
In a lab report, you need to report the variation using the formal term 'standard deviation'.
Choose the best phrase to show your data was very inconsistent.
The results were all over the place; the ___ ___ ___ very high.
A high 'standard deviation' indicates that the data points are spread far apart from the average.
🎉 점수: /2
시각 학습 자료
Formality of 'The standard deviation was'
Used as a joke among friends.
My coffee habit's SD is huge.
Standard for data-driven meetings.
The standard deviation was low this quarter.
Required for reporting research results.
The standard deviation was 1.45.
Where you'll hear this phrase
Science Lab
Reporting chemical reactions.
Corporate Boardroom
Analyzing market volatility.
Fitness App
Reviewing heart rate consistency.
University Lecture
Explaining social survey data.
자주 묻는 질문
10 질문It tells you how much your data 'wiggles' around the average. A small number means the data is very consistent; a large number means it is very varied.
Only if you are joking or talking to a fellow data scientist. In most casual emails, it sounds too formal.
You can, but The standard deviation was is a specific mathematical calculation. Using the correct term makes you sound more expert.
Yes, usually. You are referring to a specific calculated value, so The standard deviation was is the grammatically correct way to start.
Yes, it is a universal scientific term used in all variants of English, including British, American, and Australian.
Variance is the square of the standard deviation. In general reporting, standard deviation is much more common because it uses the same units as the original data.
You can write: 'The mean was 50 (SD = 5).' You don't usually say 'The SD was' out loud unless you are in a very technical meeting.
Only metaphorically or humorously. For example, 'The standard deviation of his mood is huge' means he is very unpredictable.
Use was if you are reporting on a study you already finished. Use is if you are describing a permanent fact or a current live data set.
It depends on your data! If you are measuring height in meters, 0.1 is low. If you are measuring distance in kilometers, 0.1 is extremely low.
관련 표현
Mean score
The mathematical average of a set of numbers.
Statistically significant
A result that is unlikely to have occurred by chance.
Outlier
A data point that is very far away from the rest of the data.
Bell curve
A graph showing a normal distribution where most data is near the average.
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