Meaning & use
facts and figures
Last updated
UK/ˌfækts ən ˈfɪɡəz/
US/ˌfækts ən ˈfɪɡjərz/
Meaning
nounplural
Detailed, reliable information, especially numbers and statistics, used to explain or support a point.
Grammar: Always plural: the facts and figures are clear.
Patterns
- facts and figures about something
- facts and figures on something
The report is full of facts and figures about local schools.
Before investing, she asked for the facts and figures.
The guide gives facts and figures on the city's history.
Common combinations
- give the facts and figures
- The minister gave the facts and figures to reporters.
- check the facts and figures
- Check the facts and figures before you publish.
- facts and figures about
- The page lists facts and figures about the company.
- hard facts and figures
- We need hard facts and figures, not guesses.
Synonyms and how they differ
- data
- Data is more technical and refers to collected information, usually numerical.
- statistics
- Statistics refers specifically to numbers analyzed or reported, while facts and figures also includes plain facts.
- details
- Details is general and need not include numbers.
Opposites
guessworkspeculation
Practice
The manager asked for the ___ before making a decision.
Choose one answer.
Facts and figures is the fixed plural phrase. The other forms are not idiomatic.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “facts and figures”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.
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