# Regression tags

Currently we have the following regression tags: regression, linear-regression, logistic-regression, nonlinear-regression, stepwise-regression, ridge-regression, dynamic-regression, meta-regression. This is perfectly normal, since there are a lot of questions related to the regression and separate tags makes a lot of sense.

I would like to propose however to remove multiple-regression tag, since usually all the regressions are multiple.

I also propose standard formulation for all the specific regression tag wikis:

[Insert regression type] regression is a type of regression, where [insert some characterisation of the particular regression type]

The example for linear regression would be:

Linear regression is a type of regression, where regression function is linear. This is the most widely used regression type.

I've already edited linear, logistic and dynamic regression tag wiki's, the edits will appear when they are approved.

Update I see that linear regression tag was merged with regression tag. This seems a good thing. It would be also good to merge the multiple-regression tag with regression (by merging I mean making synonym or something to that effect). I looked at the questions tagged with this tag, they all mention linear regression.

• @mpiktas Ah, it appears I already validated two of them before seeing this thread. Let's wait and see what other users think of your proposition. (We can modify the tag excerpt afterwards.) – chl Apr 22 '11 at 7:47
• @chl, that was my intention in part, because there is no way for others to see how the proposed wiki looks when modified. Currently only 10 users can approve wiki, i.e. see the proposals. – mpiktas Apr 22 '11 at 8:07
• What is to distinguish the regression tag with the more specific tags? – Andy W Apr 25 '11 at 13:05
• @Andy W, good question. – mpiktas Apr 26 '11 at 8:30
• @Andy W, can you clarify whether you mean that other regression tags are unnecessary, or something else? – mpiktas May 3 '11 at 7:40
• @mpiktas, I'll try to add clarification sometime today in an answer. I think they are necessary and useful, but I'm concerned about the scope of the "regression" tag versus the more specific tags. – Andy W May 3 '11 at 12:38

I believe the multiple-regression tag has a purpose, because there is a clear distinction maintained in textbooks and people's minds between "simple" regression models and "multiple" regression models. A regression problem becomes overtly "multiple" when one has to grapple with the mutual relationships among the independent variables. To clarify this, I have created a wiki entry for multiple-regression to this effect. As always, your suggestions about improving that are welcome.
It is likely that the distinction I am highlighting has not consistently been maintained by previous users of the multiple-regression tag. The fix is to retag such questions whenever you run across them.
Alternatively, one could argue that the combination of the multivariate and regression tags achieves what my multiple-regression proposal does. I think such an argument is valid and am interested to hear what people find more useful or natural.