a pathetic amount of data

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a pathetic amount of data" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to express disappointment or dissatisfaction with the quantity of data available for analysis or decision-making. Example: "After running the experiment, I was disheartened to find that we only collected a pathetic amount of data to support our hypothesis."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Beyond some highly aggregated OECD numbers, there is a pathetic amount of data available.

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

The amount of information gathered so far "is a ridiculous amount of data," said Jeff Lendino, associate general counsel at Ontrack Data International, which specializes in data retrieval.

The New York Times

Kind of a pathetic amount, don't you think?

TechCrunch

I earn such a pathetic amount.

The Guardian

A 49-year-old English lecturer who says: "I earn such a pathetic amount.

The Guardian

We had a tremendous amount of data.

The New York Times

Even though they both lost a significant amount of data.

The Guardian - Tech

"We're still waiting for a considerable amount of data".

The New York Times - Science

Google has a massive amount of data available.

Harvard Business Review

This process generates a huge amount of data.

MIT Technology Review

"That's a huge amount of data being thrown out!" James Morgan, of Brown, told me.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the phrase "a pathetic amount of data", ensure that the context clearly expresses disappointment or inadequacy regarding the data quantity. Avoid using it in neutral or positive contexts.

Common error

Avoid using "a pathetic amount of data" when the data is simply less than expected, but still sufficient for analysis. Reserve it for situations where the lack of data severely hinders or invalidates the intended purpose.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a pathetic amount of data" functions as an adjectival phrase modifying the noun "amount". It expresses a subjective assessment of the quantity of data, implying it is disappointingly small or inadequate, as Ludwig AI confirms.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "a pathetic amount of data" is a grammatically correct and usable expression to convey disappointment with the inadequacy of available data. While Ludwig AI confirms its validity, it's crucial to consider the context and formality level. More formal alternatives like "insufficient data" might be preferable in academic or professional settings. The phrase most commonly appears in news and media, serving to criticize or highlight the inadequacy of data for informed decision-making or analysis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a pitiful amount of data

Replaces "pathetic" with "pitiful", highlighting the inadequacy of the data and perhaps evoking sympathy.

a disappointing quantity of data

Focuses on the feeling of letdown due to the limited data.

a meager amount of data

Uses "meager" to suggest the data is scanty or deficient.

a scarce amount of data

Emphasizes the limited availability of the data.

a negligible quantity of data

Replaces "pathetic" with "negligible" implying the data is insignificant.

an insignificant amount of data

Similar to "negligible", highlighting the lack of importance of the data due to its small size.

an inadequate volume of data

Replaces "amount" with "volume", adding a more formal tone and suggesting insufficiency.

a trifling amount of data

Highlights the unimportance of the data due to its small quantity.

a derisory amount of data

Emphasizes the worthlessness or inadequacy of the data in a mocking way.

a laughable amount of data

Suggests the amount of data is so small it's almost ridiculous.

FAQs

What does "a pathetic amount of data" mean?

It expresses disappointment or dissatisfaction with the quantity of data, suggesting it is insufficient or inadequate for a particular purpose.

How to use "a pathetic amount of data" in a sentence?

You can use it like this: "After months of research, we only gathered "a pathetic amount of data", making our conclusions unreliable."

What are some alternatives to "a pathetic amount of data"?

Alternatives include "a disappointing amount of data", "an inadequate amount of data", or "a negligible quantity of data" depending on the context.

Is "a pathetic amount of data" appropriate for formal writing?

While grammatically correct, "a pathetic amount of data" might be too informal for academic or professional contexts. Consider using alternatives like "an insufficient amount of data" or "a limited quantity of data".