correlation vs causation
/ˌkɒrəˈleɪʃən ˌvɜːrsəs kɔːˈzeɪʃən/
assuming that because two things correlate, one causes the other
correlation vs causation in a sentence
“Ice cream sales and drownings both rise in summer—correlation, not causation.”
Origin of correlation vs causation
Latin correlatio mutual relation from cor- together + relatio vs. causatio causation from causa cause
Related Words
equivocation
using a word with multiple meanings to mislead
false dichotomy
presenting only two options when more exist
false equivalence
treating two different things as if they were the same
gambler's fallacy
believing past random events affect future probabilities
genetic fallacy
judging something based on its origin rather than its current meaning
hasty generalization
drawing broad conclusions from limited examples