Statistics Tip of the Week: the Skew is in the direction of the long tail.

There are 3 categories of numerical properties which describe a Probability Distribution (e.g. the Normal or Binomial Distributions).

• Center: e.g. Mean
• Variation: e.g. Standard Deviation
• Shape: e.g. Skewness 

Skewness is a case in which common usage of a term is the opposite of statistical usage. If the average person saw the Distribution on the left, they would say that it's skewed to the right, because that is where the bulk of the curve is. However, in statistics, it's the opposite. The Skew is in the direction of the long tail.
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If you can remember these drawings, think of "the tail wagging the dog."