Meaning & use
correlate to or with
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Meanings
phrasefixed phrase
used to discuss which preposition follows the verb correlate when two things are connected
Grammar: The usual pattern is 'correlate with something'; 'correlate to something' appears but is often considered nonstandard.
Patterns
- correlate with something
- be correlated with something
- correlate strongly with something
Researchers found that income correlates with life expectancy.
The two sets of figures do not correlate with each other at all.
Some writers use 'correlate to', but most editors prefer 'correlate with'.
verbintransitivetechnical
to have a close connection in which one thing changes as the other changes
Grammar: No object; the second thing follows with or with the preposition with: test scores correlate with study time.
Patterns
- correlate with something
- correlate closely with something
- be correlated with something
Temperature correlates closely with ice-cream sales.
The study shows that class size does not correlate with better results.
Height and weight are correlated, but one does not cause the other.
Common combinations
- correlate with
- Sleep quality correlates with how well you concentrate.
- correlate strongly with
- Exercise correlates strongly with lower stress levels.
- be correlated with
- Rainfall is correlated with crop yields in this region.
- correlate to
- Avoid 'correlate to' in formal writing; say 'correlate with' instead.
Synonyms and how they differ
- be connected with
- A general phrase for any link; correlate with suggests a measured, statistical relationship.
- be associated with
- Similar in academic use, but it does not require the two things to rise or fall together.
Word family
- correlation noun
- a connection in which two things change together
- correlated adjective
- having a measured connection with something else
Commonly confused: correlate to or with or relate to?
correlate to or with vs relate to
Relate to is broader and can mean 'have a connection with' or 'understand'; correlate with is mainly for measured links.
Practice
Choose the sentence that uses the standard preposition.
Choose one answer.
In academic English the verb correlate takes with, so B is correct. An is a common mistake because to appears after many verbs, but not here.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “correlate to or with”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.