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Symbol formats
The table below summarizes the correct format of statistical parameters. In many cases, Greek letters are used
to indicate the population parameter for a statistic, and corresponding English letters are used to indicate the
sample statistic that is an estimate of that population parameter. Symbols should be italicized in all cases where
they represent a constant value. Associated subscripts and superscripts are generally not italicized (but see
below):
Population Parameter
Population Parameter
Symbol
Sample Parameter
population size
population mean
(arithmetic)
N
sample size
sample mean (arithmetic)
population mean
(geometric)
G (mG in Symbol font)
population mean
(harmonic)
H (mH in Symbol font)
population median
˜ (“-tilde” created
 (m in Symbol font)

using the Insert menu 
Object…  Microsoft
Equation function in
Microsoft Office)
population variance
population standard
deviation
2 (s2 in Symbol font)
 (s in Symbol font)
population skewness
population kurtosis
population correlation
1 (g1 in Symbol font)
2 (g2 in Symbol font)
 (r in Symbol font)
Sample Parameter
Symbol
n
x (created using the
Insert menu  Object…
 Microsoft Equation
function in Microsoft

Office). The word
“mean”, as in “mean =
27.2 is also acceptable.
sample mean (geometric)
xG (created using the
Insert menu  Object…
 Microsoft Equation
function in Microsoft

Office). The abbreviation
“GM”, as in “GM = 27.2
is also acceptable.
sample mean (harmonic)
x H (created using the
Insert menu Object…
 Microsoft Equation
function in Microsoft

Office) The phrase
“harmonic mean”, as in
“harmonic mean = 27.2 is
also acceptable.
sample median
xχ (“x-tilde”created using
the Insert menu 
Object…  Microsoft
Equation function in

Microsoft Office). The
word “median”, as in
“median = 27.2 is also
acceptable.
sample variance
s2
sample standard deviation s
standard error of the mean SE or SEM
coefficient of variation
CV
sample skewness
g1
sample kurtosis
g2
sample correlation
r
coefficient (Pearson’s)

coefficient of determination 2 (r2 in Symbol font)
(population)
regression line intercept
0 (b0 in Symbol font)
regression line slope(s)
i (bi in Symbol font,
where i = the variable
number)
regression line variables: y and x(s)
coefficient (Pearson’s)
coefficient of
r2
determination (sample)
Regression line intercept
b0
(estimated from sample
data)
Regression line slope(s)
bi (where i = the variable
estimates from sample
number)
data)
Your call: can be upper or lowercase, italicized or not.
Symbols used in statistical tests:
Probability should be expressed as P, and “alpha” as  (a in Symbol font).
Critical values are generally not reported.
There should always be a space on either side of any “equals sign” ( = ).
The test statistics z, t, chi-squared, and F should be represented as:
z (or z) neither subscript is italicized, but the numerical value for  or /2 is substituted for the  (or /2).
Often (n = the sample size) is also included. The P-value may or may not be reported
t (or t) neither subscript is italicized, but the numerical value for a or a/2 is substituted. Always report the P
value and the degrees of freedom or include the alpha and degrees of freedom in the subscript (e.g., t0.975,35 = the
test statistic). Alternatively, report t = the test statistic (df
P = the P-value).
2
 needs to have the alpha and degrees of freedom reported, as well as the P-value: 2,df = the test statistic (e.g.,
2,12). Alternatively, report 2 = the test statistic (df
P = the P-value).
For F, always report both the numerator and the denominator degrees of freedom (e.g., F2,35 = the test statistic;
P = the P-value) or include it in parentheses, e.g., (F(2,35) = the test statistic; P = the P-value).
Other symbols of potential value:
> greater than
≥ greater than or equal to (option >)
>> much greater than
< less than
≤ less than or equal to (option <)
<< much less than
= equal to
≠ (option =) not equal to
≈ (option-x) “approximately equal to”
 (Symbol font) or • (option-8) multiplication sign
÷ (option-/) division sign
– (option--) subtraction sign (“m-dash”, wider than – “n-dash”)
∞ (option-5) infinity symbol (, the infinity symbol in Symbol font, is more often used)
° (option-shift-8) degree symbol
‰ (option-shift-R) “parts per thousand” symbol