Used and loved by millions

Since I tried Ludwig back in 2017, I have been constantly using it in both editing and translation. Ever since, I suggest it to my translators at ProSciEditing.

Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak quote

Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak

CEO of Professional Science Editing for Scientists @ prosciediting.com

MitStanfordHarvardAustralian Nationa UniversityNanyangOxford

a data which

Grammar usage guide and real-world examples

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a data which" is not correct in standard written English.
The word "data" is typically treated as a plural noun, so it should be preceded by "data that" or "the data that." Example: "The data that we collected shows significant trends in consumer behavior."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

Academia

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

An outlier is a data which is different from the other data in that domain.This abnormal data or point can be very useful to describe the abnormality of that system.

The optimal number of clusters for the entire clade A data, which included 360 individuals, was K = 2.

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

It turned out that the phosphate simulation was not much improved by the chlorophyll-a data, which was due to weak correlation between the two variables in the model ensemble.

And then for each pair of clusters, we're going to draw a parameter data, which, basically, captures the probability that object a interacts with object b.

The truth is most researchers did a decent job but only received a small window of data, which took a very long time to get it.

News & Media

Forbes

Therefore, while passing through SOA, one data acting as a pump, saturates another data which is a probe signal.

However, MVD contains a large amount of data, which becomes a challenge for data storage and network transmission.

So if you want to get to the bottom fast, choose a column of data which has no gaps.

That's a lot of data — which most companies cannot process fast enough.

News & Media

Forbes

A reviewer extracted data which describe the economics components of included reviews.

Driving cycle is a series of data, which shows the speed of vehicle versus time.

Show more...

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Always treat "data" as a plural noun in formal writing; use "data that" or "the data that" to maintain grammatical accuracy.

Common error

Avoid using the article "a" with the word "data"; instead, use "data" without an article or rephrase using "a piece of data" if referring to a single item.

Antonio Rotolo, PhD - Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

Antonio Rotolo, PhD

Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

Source & Trust

80%

Authority and reliability

1.8/5

Expert rating

Real-world application tested

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a data which" is grammatically incorrect. Data is generally considered a plural noun, so it cannot be preceded by the singular article "a". Ludwig AI identifies this grammatical issue, suggesting alternatives for correct usage.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

33%

News & Media

33%

Academia

33%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "a data which" is grammatically incorrect because "data" is generally treated as a plural noun. As pointed out by Ludwig AI, correct alternatives include "data that", "the data that", or rephrasing to use a singular noun like "a piece of data". While examples of the phrase exist across different contexts, its incorrectness makes it unsuitable for formal writing. Always ensure grammatical accuracy by using the correct plural form and relative pronoun when referring to data.

FAQs

How to correctly use "data" in a relative clause?

Since "data" is generally treated as a plural noun, use "data that" or "data which". For example, "The "data that" we collected shows a trend."

Is it ever correct to use "a data"?

No, "a data" is grammatically incorrect. If you intend to refer to a single piece of information, use "a piece of data" or "an item of data".

What's the difference between "data that" and "data which"?

"Data that" is generally preferred in American English for restrictive clauses (essential information), while "data which" can be used in non-restrictive clauses (additional information). However, both require that "data" is treated as plural.

What can I say instead of the incorrect "a data which"?

Use alternatives like ""data that"", "the data that", or rephrase to use a singular noun such as "a piece of data".

ChatGPT power + Grammarly precisionChatGPT power + Grammarly precision
ChatGPT + Grammarly

Editing plus AI, all in one place.

Stop switching between tools. Your AI writing partner for everything—polishing proposals, crafting emails, finding the right tone.

Source & Trust

80%

Authority and reliability

1.8/5

Expert rating

Real-world application tested

Most frequent sentences: