Meaning & use
data
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Meanings
noununcountable
Facts, numbers or other information collected so that it can be studied or used to make decisions.
Grammar: Usually treated as singular: the data is clear. Plural use (the data are) is formal.
Patterns
- data on something
- data from something
The researchers collected data on thousands of patients.
The data shows that sales rose in March.
We need more data before deciding.
noununcountablecomputing
Information stored or processed by a computer.
Grammar: No plural: back up your data.
Patterns
- data in something
Make sure you back up your data regularly.
The app stores user data on a secure server.
Mobile data is cheaper than it used to be.
Common combinations
- collect data
- Scientists collect data from satellites.
- analyze data
- She analyzes data for a bank.
- personal data
- The site protects your personal data.
- data set
- The data set contains a million entries.
- raw data
- The report includes the raw data.
Synonyms and how they differ
- information
- Is broader and can mean any knowledge, while data suggests facts or figures to be processed.
- statistics
- Means numerical facts that have been arranged, while data may be raw.
- figures
- Refers to numbers only.
- evidence
- Means facts that support or disprove a claim.
Word family
Commonly confused: data or date?
data vs date
Date is a calendar day; data is information.
Practice
Which sentence uses data in the most common modern way?
Choose one answer.
Data is usually treated as an uncountable singular noun, so the data is is the normal form. Datas and a data are incorrect.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “data”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.