Mean thickness or average thickness?

English translation: average

08:24 Jun 7, 2006

English language (monolingual) [PRO]
Tech/Engineering - Geology / surveying, prospecting

English term or phrase: Mean thickness or average thickness?

In describing the thicknesses of strata in a geological survey, is it correct to refer to "mean thickness" or "average thickness"? (In the Russian text I am translating, the Russian word could mean either, but in English, "average" is not always the same as "mean".)

Jack Doughty KudoZ activity Questions: 609 (none open) (18 closed without grading) Answers: 10082 United Kingdom
Local time: 23:01

Selected answer:average

Explanation:
I would say that "mean" is more exact notion, meaning some rule of calculating the number, like arithmetical mean, etc.

In Russian, the difference is between "средняя" (less exact) and "усреднённая толщина" (more exact, implying a strict mathematical method of calculating the mean value).

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Note added at 17 mins (2006-06-07 08:41:21 GMT)
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I may be wrong, but I believe "average" sounds more common and everyday, while "mean" is more `mathematical'. The same is for the Russian words I mentioned above.

Selected response from:

Kirill Semenov
Ukraine
Local time: 01:01

Grading comment

I've found many examples of both in Google, so I think either would do, but I think that in general, you are right. Thanks to you & other answerers.
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer

SUMMARY OF ALL EXPLANATIONS PROVIDED

2 +3

average

Kirill Semenov

3 +1

average thickness

DarekS

mean thickness

Alexander Taguiltsev

Discussion entries: 4

Answers

3 mins confidence:

mean thickness or average thickness? mean thickness

Explanation:
for geological stratum

Alexander Taguiltsev
Russian Federation
Local time: 01:01
Works in field
Native speaker of: Russian