June 24, 2013
Small irk of the day
While watching Discovery Channel’s coverage of Nik Wallenda’s nerve-wracking high-wire walk across the Little Colorado Gorge Grand Canyon*, it was somewhat bothersome to hear the commentators repeatedly say that there was “no room for margin of error”.
I wonder if there’s any other statistical phrase that is used in other contexts so often?
Rachel Cunliffe is the co-director of CensusAtSchool and currently consults for the Department of Statistics. Her interests include statistical literacy, social media and blogging. See all posts by Rachel Cunliffe »
Is the ‘law of averages’ a statistical phrase?
11 years ago
No “room for margin of error” sounds like awkward language, but I don’t see any issue with it used colloquially.
If I wanted to be a pedant I would point out that there must be *some* small room for error or he would have fallen.
11 years ago
“No room for error” is a common enough saying – if a trifle circular in its logic. By saying “margin of error” the commentator was injecting a bit of stats jargon.
It could be a slip of the tongue, or it could be an attempt to add credibility to a fairly banal comment.
11 years ago
Pseudo-statistics perhaps?
11 years ago
There’s always some room for error – plenty of errors would have been correctable or non fatal. It misses the variability idea.
11 years ago
In a complex and dynamic system such as this error is fine it is managed within a web of rapid feedback and interaction between all his balance sensors and controls moving the various parts of his body in response to wind, vibration etc in essence automatic balance control
11 years ago