A number of data

USAGE SUMMARY

"A number of data" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to a quantity or collection of data; for example, "We gathered a number of data on the efficacy of the vaccine."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

56 human-written examples

A number of data sets are currently listed through the bibliographic search page.

Columbia University

A number of data breaches may also be made public next month as companies race to beat the GDPR deadline.

The Guardian - Tech

A number of data mining methods have been developed to deal with one or more of these challenges.

Between the Lines of Genetic Code Genetic Interactions in Understanding Disease and Complex Phenotypes

"A number of data capture use cases for HoloLens come to mind," the company wrote in a 2016 blog post.

TechCrunch

A number of data hiding techniques are used in [9 14] to mask sensitive knowledge before sharing or analyzing datasets.

Journal of Big Data

A number of data elements are assessed by using ratings.

BMC Health Services Research

A number of data collection tools were used.

Globalization and Health

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

4 human-written examples

The company filed its S-1 for a public offering, released a number of data-focused products and unveiled a social news reader for professionals.

TechCrunch

That change drew fire from a number of data-protection agencies around the world, and has still been drawing criticism and the threat of fines several years later.

TechCrunch

Advertising counterfeit goods online is also getting more difficult thanks to a number of data-related initiatives.

Huffington Post

We surveyed a number of data-partitioning schemes using PartitionFinder [ 34].

BMC Evolutionary Biology

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a number of data", ensure that the context clearly indicates what the data refers to. Specify the type or source of data to provide more clarity.

Common error

Avoid treating "data" as a singular noun. Although the phrase uses "a number", remember that "data" itself is plural. Ensure verbs and pronouns agree accordingly.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a number of data" functions as a determiner phrase specifying a quantity of information. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's a standard expression used to indicate that multiple pieces of data are being referred to. The phrase sets the stage for discussing or analyzing that specific collection of information.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

55%

News & Media

25%

Academia

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a number of data" is a grammatically sound and commonly used phrase, as validated by Ludwig AI, that indicates the presence of multiple pieces of information. It's most prevalent in scientific and news contexts and maintains a neutral to formal tone. When using this phrase, make sure to keep "data" as plural. For clarity, specify what that data refers to. If you're seeking alternatives, consider options like "several data points" or "various data sets" depending on the intended nuance.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

A quantity of data

Replaces "number" with "quantity", emphasizing the amount.

A collection of data

Emphasizes the act of gathering diverse data.

Several data points

Focuses on individual pieces of information rather than the entire collection.

A body of data

Presents the data as a unified and comprehensive collection.

Various data sets

Emphasizes multiple collections of data instead of one quantity.

Numerous data items

Highlights the quantity of individual data elements.

A range of data

Suggests a spectrum or variety within the data.

Ample data

Suggests there is more than enough data available.

Multiple data sources

Highlights that information comes from many locations.

Significant data

Implies the data are important or impactful.

FAQs

How can I use "a number of data" in a sentence?

You can use "a number of data" to indicate that there are several pieces of information; for example, "After conducting the survey, we collected "a number of data" regarding customer preferences".

What's a good alternative to using "a number of data"?

Depending on the context, you could replace "a number of data" with alternatives such as "several data points", "various data sets", or "multiple data sources".

Is it more appropriate to say "a number of data" or "several data"?

While both phrases convey the idea of multiple data, ""a number of data"" is more formal and widely accepted. "Several data" is less common and might sound awkward to some readers.

Can I use "data" in the singular form with "a number of"?

No, "data" is the plural form. The singular form is "datum", but it's rare to use "a number of datum". It's more natural to rephrase as "a data point" if you are referring to a single item.