Talk:anecdotal evidence

Unformatted Russian translation

• Russian: сомнительное доказательство n (though I suggest you don't use that translation because the word 'evidence' have not got an exact translation into Russian.)

In russian a more precise analog сомнительный аргумент n. moved by Mglovesfun (talk) 12:07, 5 May 2010 (UTC)

Deletion debate

The following information passed a request for deletion.

This discussion is no longer live and is left here as an archive. Please do not modify this conversation, but feel free to discuss its conclusions.

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anecdotal evidence

Probably sum of parts - evidence which is anecdotal in nature. Yes, there is a Wikipedia page, but that is not part of our Criteria for Inclusion. Moreover, the definition given is too narrow, as evidence can be anecdotal without necessarily being obtained randomly or having no legal basis. Delete. ---> Tooironic 06:14, 4 May 2010 (UTC)

Ironically this is the sort of entry that SemperBlotto usually shoots on sight - although he created it in 2007. Delete, I see no controversy here. Mglovesfun (talk) 21:10, 4 May 2010 (UTC)

Strong keep, at the very least it is a set phrase. But the definition is not very good, and needs a full rewrite. I actually consider the term a misnomer, as it is not evidence in the scientific sense, and this takes from the SoP claim, and could be included in part of the definition.--Dmol 12:04, 5 May 2010 (UTC)

Sure, if you can improve the entry there's a much better possibility of it being kept. See Talk:master mariner for a specific example of this. Mglovesfun (talk) 12:09, 5 May 2010 (UTC)

I have change it to "A limited selection of examples chosen to support or refute an argument, which are not supported by scientific or statistical analysis". This is more broad than the previous definition, and seems to show that the term is a set phrase.--Dmol 23:31, 5 May 2010 (UTC)

If it were really a set phrase it would not be found in expressions like "anecdotal and statistical/geographical/empirical/survey/experimental evidence", as it is at COCA. "Anecdotal" is followed by many nouns with similar meaning, such as "report", "account", "cases", etc. And evidence can be modified by many adjectives.

OTOH "Anecdotal X and evidence" and "anecdotal evidence and X" do not occur with "anecdotal" unambiguously modifying both X and evidence.

Some lemmings have it, including Dictionary.com's own 21st Century Lexicon and a medical dictionary.

Keep 2+ lemmings can't be wrong. DCDuring TALK 00:50, 6 May 2010 (UTC)

Keep, well known set phrase. This is true because I'm telling you it is true. KillerChihuahua 15:19, 3 July 2010 (UTC)

Kept.​—msh210℠ (talk) 16:41, 1 September 2010 (UTC)