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.