What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
covariance
Example
The covariance between height and weight is positive, meaning that taller people tend to weigh more. [covariance: noun]
Example
The covariance matrix shows the relationship between different variables in the dataset. [covariance: noun]
correlation
Example
There is a strong correlation between smoking and lung cancer. [correlation: noun]
Example
The correlation coefficient indicates the strength of the relationship between two variables. [correlation: noun]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Correlation is more commonly used than covariance in everyday language. Correlation is a more intuitive measure of the relationship between two variables and is easier to interpret than covariance.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between covariance and correlation?
Covariance and correlation are both formal terms used in statistics and data analysis. However, correlation is more versatile and can be employed in various formality levels, allowing it to be used in both formal and informal contexts.
