a certain data

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a certain data" is not correct in standard written English.
The word "data" is typically treated as a plural noun in formal contexts, so it should be "certain data" without the article "a." Example: "The researchers collected certain data to support their hypothesis."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

37 human-written examples

People surpass a certain data level, and then they are slowed down.

The New York Times

Klarna and Wonga feed all the data through elaborate algorithms which determine, almost in real time, how likely it is that a user with a certain data profile will default.

The Economist

Here, we assume that the user expects a certain data rate dexp from the operator.

EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking

For example, an application may require a certain data format or standard to be presented.

Journal of Big Data

Everyone generally agrees for example that the closing price of GOOG on a certain data is a particular dollar amount.

TechCrunch

It has ways to make the app available no matter if a certain data center goes down.

TechCrunch

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

23 human-written examples

We show that, providing a certain data-dependent eigenvalue condition is met, our algorithm provides asymptotically unbiased estimates, and we indicate the rate at which the bias decreases.

IFAC Proceedings Volumes

MyGrid [ 18], for example, provides an ontology-based mechanism, which can be used by a service provider to register services (e.g., SOAP-based WebyServices) and by a service consumer to issue queries for services related to a certain data-type.

BMC Systems Biology

Furthermore, to deal with different level noises and outliers, we propose to use 'soft' capped norm, which caps the residual of outliers as a constant value and provides a probability for certain data point being an outlier.

Knowledge-Based Systems

A combination of XSLT and JScript is used to make a reorder program, BrowseTMAReorder, which accepts a TMA DES XML file and creates a version with certain data elements (mainly the identifiers) first within their parent data element.

BMC Medical Informatics and Decision Making

In real world situations, at this stage it is not necessary that a precise or certain data is known in advance.

Journal of Industrial Engineering International

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Treat "data" as a plural noun and use "certain data" without the article "a". For example, use "certain data points" instead of "a certain data point".

Common error

Avoid using the indefinite article "a" before "certain data". Since "data" is generally considered plural, the correct usage is "certain data" or alternatives like "specific data" or "particular data".

Linguistic Context

The phrase is intended to function as a determiner and adjectival phrase modifying the noun "data", but grammatically it is incorrect. Ludwig AI identifies it as such, suggesting it should be "certain data" without the article.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

50%

News & Media

50%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "a certain data" is grammatically incorrect because "data" is generally treated as a plural noun. According to Ludwig AI, the correct form is "certain data". Although examples exist in both scientific and news media, it's recommended to use the correct form or consider alternatives like "specific data" or "particular data". To avoid grammatical errors, always treat "data" as a plural noun unless you are referring to a single piece of information, in which case "datum" would be appropriate, although this term is rarely used in modern English. Using "certain data" improves clarity and credibility in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

specific data

Replaces "certain" with a more direct synonym, indicating precise and clearly defined data.

particular data

Similar to "specific data", but may imply data chosen for a specific reason or purpose.

given data

Implies data that is already known or provided in a context.

designated data

Suggests data that has been officially or formally assigned for a particular use.

defined data

Emphasizes that the data is clearly outlined and characterized.

identified data

Implies the data has been recognized and distinguished from other data.

specified data

Similar to "defined data", indicating that the data has been explicitly stated.

precise data

Indicates that the data is exact and accurate, with no ambiguity.

selected data

Implies data that has been chosen from a larger set for a specific purpose.

relevant data

Suggests that the data is pertinent and applicable to the current situation or analysis.

FAQs

How to use "a certain data" correctly?

The phrase "a certain data" is generally considered grammatically incorrect. Use "certain data" instead, treating "data" as a plural noun.

What are alternatives to "a certain data"?

You can use alternatives like "specific data", "particular data", or "designated data" to convey a similar meaning.

Which is correct, "a certain data" or "certain data"?

"Certain data" is the correct form. "A certain data" is generally considered grammatically incorrect because "data" is typically treated as a plural noun.

What's the difference between "certain data" and "specific data"?

While both phrases are similar, "certain data" refers to some data that meets a condition or description. "Specific data" indicates data that is clearly defined or identified.