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Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak quote

Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak

CEO of Professional Science Editing for Scientists @ prosciediting.com

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a hard data

Grammar usage guide and real-world examples

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a hard data" is not correct in English; it should be "hard data" without the article "a." You can use "hard data" when referring to factual, quantifiable information that is based on real evidence or measurements.
Example: "The research team presented hard data to support their findings on climate change."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

"That's a hard data point showing something working against older workers," she said.

News & Media

The New York Times

That 20 percent figure, however, is as much an assumption as a hard data point — it is challenging to calibrate these figures until one knows exactly how many voters turned out.

News & Media

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

His is a hard-data system that rejects anything that is not definitively quantifiable.

Successful risk assessment modeling involves a balance among various issues such as identifying an exhaustive list of contributing factors versus choosing the critical few to incorporate in a model; hard data and engineering judgment; uncertainty versus statistics; and flexibility versus situation-specific model.

Adds Wittemyer: "It adds a piece of hard data to a puzzle we've been trying to put together in the dark".       .

Science & Research

Science Magazine

Tools such as LiST are extremely useful for planning and providing illustrative results, but models are not a substitute for hard data if donors want a true measure of impact.

Formal & Business

Unicef

There continue to be a number of important problem areas characterized by a lack of hard data.

Hadju said a lack of hard data made it almost impossible to reach an accurate figure but 4,000 could be correct because of a history of police underreporting murders or failing to investigate suspicious deaths.

News & Media

The Guardian

With a mix of hard data and personal narrative, Putnam brings to life – with an anger and critical analysis matched by few other authors – the terrible social consequences of runaway inequality and how, with it, the US has lost a sense of shared responsibility.

News & Media

The Guardian

The annual report aims to give members of Congress an overview of the U.S. public educational system, using a mix of hard data like enrollment and test scores, and surveys reflecting the views of educators.

News & Media

Huffington Post

But its defence has been impeded by a lack of hard data.

News & Media

The Economist
Show more...

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "hard data" (without the article "a") to refer to factual, quantifiable information that is based on real evidence or measurements.

Common error

Remember that "hard data" is a non-count noun, so it doesn't take the indefinite article "a". Say "hard data" instead of "a hard data".

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

Antonio Rotolo, PhD

Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

Source & Trust

60%

Authority and reliability

1/5

Expert rating

Real-world application tested

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a hard data" is an incorrect attempt to use an adjective ("hard") to describe a noun ("data"). According to Ludwig AI, the correct form is "hard data" without the article "a".

Expression frequency: Missing

Frequent in

Science

0%

News & Media

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Science

0%

News & Media

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "a hard data" is grammatically incorrect. Ludwig AI indicates that the correct form is "hard data", without the article "a". This is because "data" is considered a non-count noun in this context. When referring to factual, quantifiable information, use "hard data". Alternatives such as "solid data" or "concrete data" may also be appropriate depending on the context. Remember to avoid using the article "a" before "hard data" to ensure grammatical correctness.

FAQs

Is "a hard data" grammatically correct?

No, "a hard data" is grammatically incorrect. The correct form is "hard data" without the article "a" because "data" is a non-count noun in this context.

What does "hard data" mean?

"Hard data" refers to factual, quantifiable information based on real evidence or measurements. It's often contrasted with subjective opinions or anecdotal evidence.

What are some alternatives to "hard data"?

You can use alternatives like "solid data", "concrete data", or "verifiable data" to convey a similar meaning.

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

Here's an example of using "hard data" correctly: "The research team presented hard data to support their findings on climate change."

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Source & Trust

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Authority and reliability

1/5

Expert rating

Real-world application tested

Most frequent sentences: