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Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak

CEO of Professional Science Editing for Scientists @ prosciediting.com

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a real data

Grammar usage guide and real-world examples

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a real data" is not correct in standard written English.
The word "data" is typically treated as a plural noun, so it should be used with "real" in a different context. Example: "We need to analyze real data to draw accurate conclusions."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

"He's a real data wonk," she said.

News & Media

The New Yorker

A real data set illustrates the application.

Numerical calculations on a real data road network are conducted.

A real data analysis is conducted for illustration.

The second example uses a real data set to approximate the geoid height.

The proposed approach is then tested on a real data set.

In this section, we verify the effectiveness of the proposed method using a real data set.

It is generated from a real data set belonging to a Danish logistics consultancy from Copenhagen.

We illustrate the practical application of the proposed estimators using a real data example.

The flexibility of the new model is illustrated with an application to a real data set.

A real data set was used to assess the performance of the algorithm.

Show more...

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When referring to collected information, ensure you use the plural form "data" correctly with adjectives like "real", "actual", or "genuine" to maintain grammatical accuracy. For example, prefer "real data analysis" over "a real data analysis".

Common error

Avoid using the indefinite article "a" before "data". "Data" is generally treated as a plural noun, so using "a" is grammatically incorrect. Use "real data" or "actual data" instead of "a real data".

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

Antonio Rotolo, PhD

Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

Source & Trust

78%

Authority and reliability

3.8/5

Expert rating

Real-world application tested

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a real data" functions as a descriptive term, intending to specify that the data being referred to is genuine or factual. However, this phrasing is grammatically incorrect because the word "data" is treated as plural.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

84%

News & Media

14%

Formal & Business

2%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "a real data" is frequently used, particularly in scientific and technical contexts to refer to authentic or genuine data. However, it's important to recognize that the phrase is grammatically incorrect since "data" is typically treated as a plural noun. Therefore, it's more appropriate to use alternatives such as "real data", "actual data", or "genuine data" to maintain grammatical accuracy. As Ludwig AI specifies, the phrase is nonstandard.

FAQs

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

The phrase "a real data" is grammatically incorrect. The word "data" is generally treated as a plural noun. Instead, use "real data".

What's a better way to say "a real data"?

Instead of "a real data", you can say "actual data", "genuine data", or "authentic data".

Is it correct to say "a real data set"?

Yes, "a real data set" is grammatically correct because "set" is a singular noun. The issue arises when using "a" directly before "data", which is generally considered plural.

What is the difference between "a real data" and "real data"?

"A real data" is grammatically incorrect because "data" is treated as a plural noun. The correct phrase is "real data", which means actual or genuine information.

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Source & Trust

78%

Authority and reliability

3.8/5

Expert rating

Real-world application tested

Most frequent sentences: