is above average vs is above the average

Both phrases are correct, but they are used in different contexts. 'Is above average' is used when comparing something to a standard or norm, while 'is above the average' is used when referring to a specific average value. They are not directly comparable as they serve different purposes.

Last updated: March 24, 2024 • 1243 views

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English when comparing something to a standard or norm.

"is above average"

This phrase is used to indicate that something is better or higher than the average or norm in a particular context.

Examples:

Her performance is above average for someone in her position.
The company's profits are above average compared to last year.
The student's test scores are above average in math.
His speed on the track is above average for his age group.
The restaurant's service is above average in this area.

Show examples from the web [+]

The suicide rate is above average.
His ability in English is above average.
There is above average unemployment in some regions while in others, there are too few skilled workers.
During the period 1998-2004, the aid to Hunosa was reduced by 32 % (adjusted value), which is above average in the Spanish mining sector, where the overall reduction was 25,7 %.
Today is above average for me.
where every child is above average,
I would never say this to her face, but Lemon is above average.
We want to live in Lake Wobegon where every child is above average, but what this does to our children is really not healthy.
Believes that educational institutions whose underprivileged students win places at higher-level institutions, or whose percentage of students graduating is above average, should be rewarded, and calls on the Commission to develop projects in this area;
Every parent thinks their child is above average.
Identify any room that is above average.
In those marketing years, when the harvest is above average, maize market prices will fall, while prices for wheat and barley will remain constantly around the intervention price, which functions as a safety net.
Jane is above average in her academics and her attitude is excellent.

Alternatives:

is better than average
is higher than average
exceeds the average
is superior to the average
is exceptional compared to the average

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English when referring to a specific average value.

"is above the average"

This phrase is used when specifying a particular average value and indicating that something is higher than that specific average.

Examples:

His score is above the average for the class.
The temperature is above the average for this time of year.
The price of the house is above the average for the neighborhood.
Her weight is above the average for her age group.
The rainfall this month is above the average for this region.

Show examples from the web [+]

In 2009, the CoR had commitment appropriations available amounting to a total of EUR 88000000 (EUR 93000000 in 2008), with a utilisation rate of 98.37 %, which is above the average of the other institutions (97.69 %).
Since the average price level of these imports is above the average price level of imports from the PRC, the cumulated price level is higher.
The share of imports from Ukraine suddenly increased in 2004. Since the average price level of these imports is above the average price level of imports from the PRC, the cumulated price level is higher.
If these contracts are in the money during the period (i.e. the exercise or settlement price is above the average market price for that period), the potential dilutive effect on earnings per share shall be calculated as follows:
Notes that in 2009 the Court of Justice had commitment appropriations available amounting to a total of EUR 318000000 (EUR 297000000 in 2008), with a utilisation rate of 98,50 %, which is above the average of the other institutions (97,69 %);
The German employment rate is above the EU average but still far below the Lisbon targets.
The unemployment rate is above the EU average, and is particularly high for young people.
17.5% of the members of Lithuania's parliament are women, which is well above the average of the applicant countries and also better than many current Member States.
Whilst the tiny state's Adriatic coast is experiencing a development boom, unemployment in the north is more than 20% and poverty is above the national average.
The employment rate in the Czech Republic is slightly above the EU15 average.
The long-term budgetary impact of ageing in Belgium is above the EU average, influenced notably by a large increase in pension expenditure as a share of GDP over the coming decades.
The long-term budgetary impact of ageing is above the EU average, mainly as a result of a relatively high increase in pension expenditure as a share of GDP over the coming decades.
a first group consisting of twelve of the present fifteen Member States, where GDP per capita in PPS is above the EU average (10 percentage points or more);
Given that the Spanish rate of absenteeism is above the European average, has the Commission required Spain to take any specific steps to reduce it?
This study does however show that Greece is above the Community average in the percentage that organic farming accounts for of total agri-environment support.
Not only that, but Poland will have the additional advantage of about EUR 1 billion coming from the redistribution which will result from the auctioning of rights in the EU countries whose income per head is above the EU average.
The long-term budgetary impact of ageing is above the EU-27 average, influenced notably by a relatively high increase in pension expenditure as a share of GDP over the coming decades.
However, the latter is well above the EU average, mainly reflecting a stronger increase in pension expenditure.
The long-term budgetary impact of ageing is slightly above the EU average.
The long-term budgetary impact of ageing is significantly above the EU average, influenced notably by a very considerable projected increase in pension expenditure.

Alternatives:

is higher than the average
exceeds the average value
is superior to the average
is greater than the average
is beyond the average

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is above average vs is above the average

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