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Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak

CEO of Professional Science Editing for Scientists @ prosciediting.com

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a greater data

Grammar usage guide and real-world examples

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a greater data" is not correct in standard written English.
The term "data" is typically treated as a plural noun in formal contexts, so it would be more appropriate to use "greater amounts of data" or "greater data sets." Example: "To improve our analysis, we need to collect greater amounts of data from various sources."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

It is theoretically known that the MIMO system can provide a greater data rate than a conventional wireless system.

Owners of Apple's current flagship phone also have a greater data consumption than the Android-based Samsung Galaxy S4, which had a 5x data generation rate vs the iPhone 3G in developed markets and 11x in developing markets.

News & Media

TechCrunch

We need a certain amount of data for them to be useful: a greater data set may support inferences that a smaller data set does not support (Mayer-Schönberger and Cukier 2014).

A greater data coverage will allow more realistic estimates for the magnetic thickness, and we believe it will lead to a decrease in the energy of our power spectrum over these wavelengths.

With this in mind, we planned to create a greater data base in this subgroup of trauma patients to work out a baseline for an evidence based level I study.

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

Maybe Snow's map had such a huge impact on its own because it was simply a great data visualisation.

News & Media

The Guardian

Ricky's very experienced so he's a great data acquisition system, he can tell us on the radio exactly what's going on in the car.

Lawrence Summers, the former Treasury secretary and a Harvard economist, described Mr. Krueger, his former student, as a "total empiricist" and a "great data monger following the data where it went".

News & Media

The New York Times

And though you may not think you are competing with Silicon Valley salaries for talent, you are if you want great people: a great data scientist can easily be 50 times more valuable than a competent one, which means that both hiring and retaining them can be pricey.

News & Media

The Guardian

"We have a great data protection law.

News & Media

BBC

If you have a great data set, we want to work with you.

News & Media

TechCrunch
Show more...

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Always treat "data" as a plural noun in formal writing. Use phrases like "more data", "larger data sets", or "a greater amount of data" for grammatical correctness.

Common error

Avoid using "data" as a singular noun with indefinite articles (a/an). It's grammatically incorrect. Instead of "a data", consider "a piece of data" or rephrase to use "information" if referring to a single element.

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

Antonio Rotolo, PhD

Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

Source & Trust

82%

Authority and reliability

2.8/5

Expert rating

Real-world application tested

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a greater data" functions as a noun phrase, intended to describe a larger amount of information. However, it exhibits grammatical incorrectness because "data" is generally treated as a plural noun in formal English. Ludwig AI also points out this error.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

40%

News & Media

40%

Formal & Business

20%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "a greater data" is generally considered grammatically incorrect in formal English, as "data" is typically treated as a plural noun. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is better to use alternatives like "more data", "larger data sets", or "more extensive data". While examples exist across science, news, and business, the error impacts the phrase's overall reliability and appropriateness. Remember to always treat "data" as plural in formal writing to maintain grammatical accuracy. Utilizing source material, like that found on Ludwig, can improve the chances of using the term accurately.

FAQs

How can I correctly use "data" in a sentence?

Remember that "data" is generally treated as a plural noun. Use plural verb forms and quantifiers appropriate for plural nouns. For example, say "the data are" instead of "the data is". If you need to refer to a single piece of information, consider using "a piece of data" or the word "datum".

What's the difference between "data" and "information"?

"Data" refers to raw, unorganized facts, while "information" is data that has been processed and organized to give it meaning. You gather data, and then you process it into information. When improving data, it is possible to achieve an "improved data quality".

What are some alternatives to "a greater data" that are grammatically correct?

Instead of "a greater data", you can use alternatives like "more data", "larger data sets", "more extensive data", or "increased data volume".

Is it ever correct to treat "data" as a singular noun?

While traditionally "data" is treated as plural, it's becoming more common, especially in informal contexts, to treat it as singular. However, in formal writing, it's still best to treat it as plural to avoid grammatical errors. If you're aiming for formality, stick to plural usage. Ensure your sentences are grammatically sound if you are using "more data".

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Source & Trust

82%

Authority and reliability

2.8/5

Expert rating

Real-world application tested

Most frequent sentences: