Confidence intervals show
Research methodology and reporting expression
Use this phrase to professionally present a range of likely results rather than one single, uncertain number.
15秒了解
- Introduces a range of likely values in data reporting.
- Signals professional uncertainty and statistical accuracy.
- Commonly used in academic, medical, and business contexts.
意思
This phrase is used to explain the range of likely values for a specific measurement. It tells your audience that you aren't just guessing, but providing a statistically safe 'window' where the truth probably lies.
关键例句
3 / 6Presenting a marketing report
Confidence intervals show that our click-through rate will likely fall between 2% and 5% next month.
Confidence intervals show that our click-through rate will likely fall between 2% and 5% next month.
Discussing a scientific study
Confidence intervals show a significant improvement in patient recovery times.
Confidence intervals show a significant improvement in patient recovery times.
Texting a fellow grad student
Ugh, my confidence intervals show such a huge range that my data is basically useless.
Ugh, my confidence intervals show such a huge range that my data is basically useless.
文化背景
The concept of confidence intervals was introduced by Jerzy Neyman in 1937. In modern English-speaking professional circles, using this phrase signals that you have a high level of statistical literacy. It is particularly popular in 'Evidence-Based' fields like medicine and public policy in the US, UK, and Canada.
The 95% Rule
In English-speaking academia, if you don't specify the percentage, people will almost always assume you mean a '95% confidence interval'.
Don't over-use it
If you use this phrase in a casual conversation about what to eat for dinner, you might come across as 'pretentious' or overly robotic.
15秒了解
- Introduces a range of likely values in data reporting.
- Signals professional uncertainty and statistical accuracy.
- Commonly used in academic, medical, and business contexts.
What It Means
Imagine you are trying to guess how many jellybeans are in a jar. You might say 'there are 500.' But a scientist would say, 'I am 95% sure there are between 450 and 550.' That range is your confidence interval. When you say confidence intervals show, you are introducing that range. It is a way of being honest about uncertainty. It tells people that while you have a good estimate, there is a small margin for error. In short, it’s about showing the 'wiggle room' in your data.
How To Use It
You usually follow this phrase with a range of numbers or a specific outcome. For example, Confidence intervals show that the new drug reduces headaches by 20% to 40%. You are setting the stage for the data that follows. It sounds very professional and precise. You can use it at the start of a sentence or to explain a chart. It’s like giving your audience a pair of glasses to see the data more clearly. Just remember to mention the percentage of confidence if you want to be extra nerdy!
When To Use It
This is a heavy hitter for formal situations. Use it during business presentations when discussing market trends. It’s perfect for academic writing or lab reports. If you are a doctor talking to a patient about success rates, this phrase adds authority. You might even use it when discussing complex political polls with friends. It shows you understand that one single number rarely tells the whole story. It’s the language of experts and careful thinkers.
When NOT To Use It
Do not use this for simple, everyday certainties. If someone asks if you want coffee, don't say, Confidence intervals show I have a 90% chance of saying yes. That’s a bit too much 'Big Bang Theory' energy for a Tuesday morning. Avoid it in highly emotional or casual settings where people want a straight 'yes' or 'no.' If your partner asks if you love them, providing a confidence interval is a one-way ticket to the doghouse. Keep it for data, not for feelings or basic facts.
Cultural Background
In the English-speaking scientific world, there has been a big shift recently. For a long time, researchers only looked at 'p-values' (which just say if something is 'true' or 'not'). Now, journals and professors prefer confidence intervals. Why? Because Western culture is starting to value the 'magnitude' of an effect over just a 'yes/no' answer. It reflects a cultural move toward transparency and acknowledging that we don't know everything perfectly. It’s the 'humble' way to do math.
Common Variations
You might hear people say The 95% confidence interval indicates or Our data shows a confidence interval of.... In casual office chat, someone might shorten it to The CI shows. Sometimes people say The margin of error suggests, which is very similar but used more often in politics. All of these variations do the same job: they protect you from being 'wrong' by giving you a range to stand in.
使用说明
This is a C1-level phrase primarily used in formal writing and professional speaking. Avoid using it in casual settings unless you are intentionally trying to sound like a 'data nerd' for comedic effect.
The 95% Rule
In English-speaking academia, if you don't specify the percentage, people will almost always assume you mean a '95% confidence interval'.
Don't over-use it
If you use this phrase in a casual conversation about what to eat for dinner, you might come across as 'pretentious' or overly robotic.
The 'Humble' Expert
Native speakers use this phrase to avoid sounding 'arrogant.' By showing a range, you admit you aren't perfect, which actually makes people trust you more!
例句
6Confidence intervals show that our click-through rate will likely fall between 2% and 5% next month.
Confidence intervals show that our click-through rate will likely fall between 2% and 5% next month.
This manages the boss's expectations by providing a range.
Confidence intervals show a significant improvement in patient recovery times.
Confidence intervals show a significant improvement in patient recovery times.
Used here to validate the strength of the research findings.
Ugh, my confidence intervals show such a huge range that my data is basically useless.
Ugh, my confidence intervals show such a huge range that my data is basically useless.
Informal venting about a failed experiment.
Confidence intervals show there's a 95% chance I'll be late to the party tonight.
Confidence intervals show there's a 95% chance I'll be late to the party tonight.
Using formal math language to describe a personal habit for humor.
The confidence intervals show that the treatment is effective in the vast majority of cases.
The confidence intervals show that the treatment is effective in the vast majority of cases.
Provides comfort by showing the reliability of the data.
While the lead is small, confidence intervals show the candidate is ahead by at least two points.
While the lead is small, confidence intervals show the candidate is ahead by at least two points.
Used to provide nuance to a political prediction.
自我测试
Choose the best word to complete the professional report.
The ___ intervals show that the project will be completed within 10 to 12 months.
`Confidence intervals` is the standard set phrase used in statistics and reporting.
Complete the sentence to sound like a data expert.
Confidence intervals ___ that the error margin is smaller than we previously thought.
`Show` or `indicate` are the most common verbs used with confidence intervals.
🎉 得分： /2
视觉学习工具
Formality of 'Confidence intervals show'
Used as a joke among friends.
Confidence intervals show I'm 100% hungry.
Discussing news or serious topics.
The confidence intervals show the poll is tight.
Academic papers and business reports.
Confidence intervals show a 3% variance.
Where to use 'Confidence intervals show'
University Lab
Reporting chemical reactions.
Corporate Boardroom
Forecasting annual revenue.
Medical Clinic
Explaining drug trial results.
News Studio
Analyzing election data.
常见问题
10 个问题It means 'based on our math, the answer is probably somewhere in this range.' It’s like saying between X and Y with professional authority.
They are close cousins! A margin of error is usually just the number (like +/- 3%), while confidence intervals show introduces the actual range (like 47% to 53%).
Yes! If you are asked about your past performance, saying Confidence intervals show my projects usually deliver 10% over target makes you sound incredibly analytical.
Usually, yes. The phrase is designed to introduce a numerical range. Without numbers, it feels like a sentence waiting to be finished.
Absolutely. It is standard across all variations of English in scientific and professional fields.
A common mistake is saying Confidence intervals show that the result is 100% certain. By definition, a confidence interval implies there is still a small chance of being wrong.
Only if you are being funny or sarcastic. For example, Confidence intervals show there's a high chance I'll forget my keys.
Because you are often looking at multiple sets of data or different variables, each with its own range. However, you can say The confidence interval shows (singular) if referring to just one range.
In a boardroom or a doctor's office, it sounds just right. In a bar, it sounds like you've been studying too hard.
The most common verbs are show, indicate, suggest, or reveal. For example, Confidence intervals suggest a trend.
相关表达
Margin of error
The amount of error allowed for in a calculation.
Statistically significant
A result that is unlikely to have occurred by chance.
Point estimate
A single value given as the best guess for a parameter.
Standard deviation
A measure of how spread out numbers are in a data set.
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