margins of error
Statistical uncertainty ranges
Margins of error are the ranges within which a true value likely falls, accounting for uncertainty in measurements or estimates.
In polling, a margin of error of plus or minus three percent means the actual figure could be three points higher or lower than reported: The candidates are in a statistical tie, within the margin of error.
The term acknowledges that precision has limits.
- standard deviationSpread around the mean
- uncertaintyState of being unsure
- intervalsGaps between events
- disclaimersStatements denying responsibility
- fine printMiniature contractual text
statistics · confidence interval · plus or minus · variability · p-value · bias · polling · too close to call · dead heat · razor thin · measurements · variances · estimations · probability distribution · hypothesis testing · calibration · tolerances · forecasting
- scientific methodexperiment, theory, data, hypothesis, observation
- statisticsmean, median, mode, variance, standard deviation
- Data Journalisminfographics, charts, graphs, data visualization, statistics
- census methodscensus bureau, census forms, census form, census tract, census year
margins of errorpinpoint accuracy
exactitude · absolute certainty · zero tolerance · certainty · precision
margins of errorcertainty
Total absence of doubt
absolute certainty · certitude · definitiveness · omniscience · infallibility
margin, error, margins, errors, marginal, marginally, marginalia, marginalize, marginalized