Figures/Statistics

Figures/Statistics (while slightly different) are both about providing 'precise' numbers/data in order to persuade the reader. A figure refers to just a number being used e.g. "The price tag on this latest piece of technology is £199" whereas a statistic is to do with 'collected' data e.g. "Over 100,000 attended the event." or "1 in 10 people have admitted they have parked on a disabled parking space."

Think about the difference between the two statements below:

• A lot of binge drink.
• 1 in 3 people binge drink at least once per week.

The first statement is more open to discussion/interpretation: "How many is a lot?", "How often do they do it?", or "Is it once in their entire life?"

The second statement is much more 'clear cut'. We know exactly how many people and we know how often they do it. Therefor, it becomes much more convincing as an argument to stop binge drinking or that binge drinking is a huge issue. Facts/figures try to remove opinion and personal experience away from the situation in order to give a more unbiased/impartial view.

A lot of media uses questionable figures/statistics, but in GCSE English Language, you shouldn't really spend time going into this - even though it is really important for you to be aware of this!

The author uses a statistic to tell us what a huge problem binge drinking is, "1 in 3 people binge drink at least once per week." By using a statistic, the author is showing us precisely how many people take part in binge drinking and how often they do it. This might be an attempt to shock the reader into realising that binge drinking is a much bigger problem than they initially expected; the reader won't just think "Oh, most people have tried binge drinking; it isn't as bad as it seems!"