correlation

A connection in which two things tend to happen or change together.

• There is a clear correlation between sleep and mood.
• The study found no correlation between these habits.
• A correlation does not prove that one thing causes another.

How to use it: correlation between A and B (Researchers noticed a correlation between stress and poor sleep.); correlation with something (Age showed little correlation with performance.)

Similar words: connection, relationship, association

Common phrases: strong correlation, clear correlation, correlation between things

A number showing how strongly two sets of values tend to rise or fall together.

• The correlation coefficient was close to zero.
• We calculated the correlation between height and weight.
• A negative correlation means one value tends to fall as the other rises.

How to use it: correlation between A and B (The analysis found a positive correlation between income and spending.)

Common phrases: correlation coefficient, positive correlation, negative correlation