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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 literal data

Grammar usage guide and real-world examples

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a literal data" is not correct in English.
The word "data" is typically treated as a plural noun, so it should be "literal data" without the article "a." You can use "literal data" when referring to data that is presented in its exact form, without interpretation or abstraction. Example: "The report includes literal data from the survey, showing the exact responses of the participants."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Each dot is a literal data point.

News & Media

Los Angeles Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

These works take us beyond literal data visualization (a staple of science, business and journalism) to help us see the unexpected in data, gain a sense for its cultural meaning, and make the otherwise abstract into an emotional experience.

News & Media

Huffington Post

This processor supports a useful PC relative load instruction for allowing efficient literal data accesses.

So the idea is to offer an alternative route to boost business intelligence vs the "traditional" route of data-sharing by simply expanding databases — because, as Irvine points out, literal data pooling is "coming under fire right now — because it is not in the best interests, necessarily, of consumers; there's some big privacy concerns; there's a lot of security risk which we're seeing show up".

News & Media

TechCrunch

Moreover, the notebook approach does not take into account datasets, unless they are small enough to be included as literal data into the notebook itself.

The name of the subprogram/method is contained in a string which may be a literal or a data item.

Such a similarity operator is based on approximate string matching methods, so non-literal data fields such as dates or numbers have to be converted before processing.

LIT is the primitive word for pushing a "literal" number onto the data stack.

Narrative analysis, in which experiences are constructed from dialogic aspects of narrative 9 can examine data from a literal or reflexive approach.

Science

BMJ Open

The work is made up of four Android tablets that make up a face of two eyes, a nose, and a mouth which can follow people around and track our movements using a Kinect gazing back at us in a literal interpretation of the inconspicuous data-gathering our devices do on a day-to-day basis.

News & Media

Vice

The museum preaches, "Same facts, different conclusions" and is unequivocal in viewing paleontological and geological data in light of a literal reading of the Bible.

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Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When referring to data in its original, uninterpreted form, use "literal data" (without the article "a"). Ensure the context supports the use of "data" as a plural noun.

Common error

Avoid using the article "a" before "literal data". The word "data" is generally considered plural; therefore, "literal data" is the correct form. "A literal data" sounds unnatural and violates standard English grammar.

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

Antonio Rotolo, PhD

Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

Source & Trust

84%

Authority and reliability

2.8/5

Expert rating

Real-world application tested

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a literal data" functions as a noun phrase intended to describe data in its exact, uninterpreted form. However, as Ludwig AI points out, the construction is grammatically incorrect. The correct usage is "literal data".

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

33%

News & Media

33%

Wiki

17%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "a literal data" appears in some sources, it's grammatically incorrect. Ludwig AI highlights that "data" is generally treated as a plural noun, so the correct form is "literal data". When writing or speaking, it's best to omit the article "a" to maintain grammatical accuracy. If you need alternatives, "raw data" or "exact data" are suitable substitutes depending on the context. Always prioritize grammatical correctness, especially in formal or academic settings.

FAQs

What is the correct way to refer to uninterpreted information?

The correct way is to use "literal data". The term refers to information presented in its exact form, without any interpretation or abstraction.

Is it grammatically correct to say "a literal data"?

No, it's not grammatically correct. "Data" is generally treated as a plural noun, so the correct form is "literal data" without the article "a".

What are some alternatives to "literal data"?

You can use alternatives like "raw data", "exact data", or "factual data" depending on the specific context.

How does "literal data" differ from interpreted data?

"Literal data" represents information in its original form, while interpreted data has been analyzed and given meaning. For example, survey responses are "literal data", while a report summarizing the trends is interpreted data.

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Source & Trust

84%

Authority and reliability

2.8/5

Expert rating

Real-world application tested

Most frequent sentences: