a small data

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a small data" is not correct in standard English usage.
The correct term is "small data," which refers to datasets that are small enough to be processed and analyzed by traditional data analysis tools. Example: "In our research, we focused on small data to draw meaningful insights without the need for complex algorithms."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

A cookie is a small data file that identifies You as a unique user.

The Guardian

These games have given us a small data set that suggests that playing football in London makes the product shittier.

The Guardian - Sport

At the end of a long hallway, a lonesome room contained a small data center; another room nearby held records from East River Savings Bank, Iron Mountain's first customer.

The New Yorker

Data Searching data in a small data set.

Asia-Pacific Science Education

A small data center can have five or 10 racks plus standalone IT equipment.

Forbes

This formulation was solved using an optimization library for a small data set.

Journal of Cloud Computing

However, parameters selected with such a small data subset could be suboptimal for the whole dataset.

Journal of Cheminformatics

This approach is not feasible for more than a small data payload.

Digital Watermarking

By contrast, the vision tasks in the symbol process level are characterized by a small data stream with complex operations.

EURASIP Journal on Image and Video Processing

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

2 human-written examples

Mr. duPont, who has spent his adult life on the island, owns two businesses here, a small data-processing company and a greenhouse.

The New York Times - Tech

FuDSEM was initially evaluated on a small data-rich catchment and was found well calibrated.

Journal of Hydrology

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When referring to a limited collection of information, use "small dataset" instead of "a small data". Datasets are countable, making the article 'a' grammatically correct.

Common error

Avoid using "a" before "small data" because "data" is generally considered an uncountable noun. Instead, use "small data" without the article, or rephrase using "a small dataset".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a small data" functions as a noun phrase, but its grammatical correctness is questionable. While it appears in various contexts, Ludwig AI indicates it's not standard English usage. It's often used to describe a limited amount of data or a small data set, as seen in the provided examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

58%

News & Media

40%

Formal & Business

2%

Less common in

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "a small data" is frequently encountered across diverse sources such as science publications and news outlets, it is grammatically incorrect. As Ludwig AI explains, the correct usage would be "small data" or "a small dataset". When you need to describe a limited amount of information, it's best to stick with alternatives such as "small dataset" or "limited data" to ensure clarity and grammatical correctness. Even though the phrase is used, correctness is preferred.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

small dataset

Replaces the general term 'data' with the more specific term 'dataset', which is more grammatically sound.

limited data

Emphasizes the limited quantity of data available.

modest data volume

Focuses on the size of the data, using 'volume' to specify quantity.

small amount of data

Uses a more descriptive phrase to indicate the limited quantity.

restricted data

Highlights the constraints on the data, implying limitations.

minor data collection

Emphasizes the act of gathering data on a small scale.

narrow data set

Indicates that the data set is limited in scope or variety.

basic data

Highlights fundamental or essential information.

preliminary data

Suggests initial or early-stage data that may be expanded upon.

insufficient data

Points out a lack of adequate data for comprehensive analysis.

FAQs

How can I correctly use the term "small data" in a sentence?

Use "small data" without the article "a", or use the term "small dataset" if you are referring to a specific collection of data.

What is the difference between "small data" and "big data"?

"Big data" refers to extremely large and complex datasets that require specialized tools for analysis, while "small data" refers to datasets that are small enough to be analyzed with traditional methods.

What are some alternatives to using the phrase "a small data"?

Instead of "a small data", consider using "small dataset", "limited data", or "modest data volume" depending on the context.

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

No, it is not grammatically correct. The term "data" is generally considered uncountable, so it does not take the indefinite article "a". You should say "small data" or "a small dataset".