Correlation vs Causation

Comments focus on reminding others that correlation does not imply causation, critiquing causal assumptions based on observed correlations in the parent article or discussion.

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Keywords

tylervigen.com wikipedia.org causation correlation causal does imply imply cause cause effect causality effect predict

Sample Comments

leshow May 12, 2015 View on HN

if this isn't an exercise in correlation not being equal to causation then i don't know what is.

philipov Sep 25, 2018 View on HN

Correlation is not enough to establish causation. Do you have a basis for claiming a causal link?

nostromo Jan 23, 2014 View on HN

Wait... didn't we just learn that correlation != causation? :)

simonebrunozzi Sep 2, 2022 View on HN

Remember, correlation causation [0].[0]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Correlation_does_not_imply_cau...

bcbrown Jul 18, 2013 View on HN

You're assuming there's a causation there, not just a correlation.

rfugger Aug 17, 2012 View on HN

Exactly. Correlation != causation.

esalman Jun 25, 2025 View on HN

Correlation is not causation bla bla bla...

sajithdilshan Oct 27, 2020 View on HN

In case you've forgotten correlation does not imply causation

mulmen Oct 11, 2020 View on HN

This smells like the old cliche. Correlation does not imply causation.

azth May 11, 2016 View on HN

Looks like someone doesn't understand correlation vs causation.