a piece of data

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a piece of data" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it in any context where you need to refer to a singular unit of information. For example, "The scientist collected a piece of data that showed a correlation between air pollution and asthma."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The result is a piece of data.

The Guardian - Sport

A mobile-telephone number is a piece of data about a person, not a household.

The Economist

A piece of data itself has no positive or negative moral value, but the way we manipulate it does.

The New Yorker

Encoding is specifically intended to convert a piece of data into a form for a specific use.

Black Hat Physical Device Security Exploiting Hardware and Software

Every time a piece of data is used, a new code is generated, which is based on all previous activity.

MIT Technology Review

"We treated every 'K' as something precious," he said, using industry shorthand for a kilobit, the standard measure for a piece of data on the Internet.

The New York Times

If a piece of data is at the end of the string, you have to spin the tape until you get to the end.

The New Yorker

For each one of these things, it has established a deep associative context that makes it more than a string of words or a piece of data.

The Guardian - Tech

The amount of information contained in a piece of data can be measured by the effect this data has on its observer.

Neural Networks

Then, it uses this information to dynamically select to route an agent carrying a piece of data to reach its destination.

Ad Hoc Networks

With a Milk program, when a core discovers that it needs a piece of data, it doesn't request it — and a cacheful of adjacent data — from main memory.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a piece of data", ensure it's clear what larger context this data belongs to. Providing the source or category enhances clarity.

Common error

Remember that "data" is technically plural (though often used as singular). When referring to a single instance, always use "a piece of data" or "a data point" rather than implying "data" is singular.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a piece of data" functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as the subject, object, or complement in a sentence. Ludwig examples show it representing singular units of information used in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

35%

Academia

25%

Less common in

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a piece of data" is a grammatically correct and commonly used noun phrase that refers to a singular unit of information. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and provides numerous examples from authoritative sources across various domains, including news, science, and academia. When using "a piece of data", ensure the context is clear and avoid treating "data" as singular in other related constructions. Alternatives like "a data point" or "an item of data" may be suitable depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a data point

Focuses on the singularity and specificity of the information.

an item of data

Emphasizes that the data is one element within a larger set.

a bit of information

Highlights the informational aspect of the data.

a fragment of data

Suggests the data is incomplete or part of something bigger.

a unit of data

Stresses that data is being considered as a single, indivisible entity.

an element of data

Highlights that the data is one of many components.

a factoid

Implies the data is a small, often trivial fact.

a statistic

Refers to data that is numerical and used for statistical analysis.

a data record

Suggests the data is stored as part of a structured record.

a measurement

Emphasizes the data was obtained through a measuring process.

FAQs

How can I use "a piece of data" in a sentence?

You can use "a piece of data" to refer to a single item of information. For example, "The analyst used "a piece of data" from the survey to support his argument."

What are some alternatives to "a piece of data"?

Alternatives include "a data point", "an item of data", or "a bit of information", depending on the specific context.

Is it correct to say "a data" instead of "a piece of data"?

No, "a data" is grammatically incorrect. "Data" is a plural noun (though often used as singular), so you should use ""a piece of data"" or rephrase the sentence to use a singular noun like "data point".

What's the difference between "a piece of data" and "a data set"?

"A piece of data" refers to a single, individual item of information, while "a data set" refers to a collection of related data points.