Is there a such thing as a redundant average?

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Wes Groleau - 18 Jan 2004 01:01 GMT

From a college textbook:

" ... that the average teacher spends
between 45 and 50 hours per week in
school-related work, with the average
being around 46 hours ..."

Hmmm, I guess "around 46" IS "between 45 and 50"

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Wes Groleau
http://groleau.freeshell.org/

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meirman - 18 Jan 2004 08:38 GMT

In alt.english.usage on Sat, 17 Jan 2004 20:01:03 -0500 Wes Groleau
<groleau+wes@freeshell.org> posted:

> From a college textbook:
>
[quoted text clipped - 4 lines]
>
>Hmmm, I guess "around 46" IS "between 45 and 50"

The first line normally should say "teachers on average spend...."

In this case, I think it should be 54% spend over 45 hours
48% spend between 45 and 50, and the average for all teachers is 46.

If they averaged the amount spent by those who spend between 45 and
50, that's no way to do things and it would be doggone misleading.

s/ meirman If you are emailing me please
say if you are posting the same response.

Born west of Pittsburgh Pa. 10 years
Indianapolis, 7 years
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Discussion Groups / English Usage / January 2004

Is there a such thing as a redundant average?