What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
relation
Example
There is a close relation between smoking and lung cancer. [relation: noun]
Example
The company has a good relation with its customers. [relation: noun]
correlation
Example
There is a strong correlation between exercise and good health. [correlation: noun]
Example
The study found a positive correlation between income and education level. [correlation: noun]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Relation is more commonly used than correlation in everyday language. Relation is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while correlation is more technical and is typically used in scientific or statistical contexts.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between relation and correlation?
Correlation is a more formal term than relation, as it is primarily used in scientific or academic contexts.
