an actual sample of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "an actual sample of" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to a genuine or real example of something, often in contexts like research, testing, or analysis. Example: "In order to validate our findings, we need to collect an actual sample of the data from the field."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

To find an actual sample of ancient atmospheric argon is remarkable and represents a breakthrough in understanding environmental conditions on Earth before life existed".

The Guardian

Technically, the survey was based on a random sample of 11,000 companies, delivering a response rate of 14% for 2013, or an actual sample of about 1500 companies.

Journal of Big Data

We chose an actual sample of 25 patients.

BMC Anesthesiology

To our knowledge, this survey is the first attempt to identify these potential risks for an actual sample of cancer patients before adverse events have emerged.

British Journal of Cancer

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

For each show or ad, the grey bars represent how much commentary was sparked across various social media, with an actual sampling of Tweets and Facebook comments, along with a tag cloud summarizing what people are saying about that show or ad.

TechCrunch

Our actual sample of SSIs recognized after discharge was 89 (1.9%) from a sample of 4,571 procedures.

Emerging Infectious Diseases

The quantitative electrochemical measurements yielded a mean value of 214.6 mg/kg in actual samples of commercially available seafood sample, whereas the spectrophotometric measurements produced a mean value of 226.7 mg/kg.

Biosensors and Bioelectronics

We propose a simpler solution because it does not involve altering the actual samples of the study cohort.

Breast Cancer Research

Now, some people who have been mailed actual samples of Prozac, and who believe the privacy of their medical records has been violated, are taking legal action.

The New York Times

A preview of what's to come has been mounted by the Metropolitan Museum: "Christo and Jeanne-Claude: The Gates, Central Park, New York," a show of 51 preparatory drawings and collages by Christo, 64 photographs, 11 maps and tech-y diagrams, along with actual samples of the steel posts, fittings, footings and such that will support the banners along the walkways without making holes in them.

The New York Times - Arts

But the doping agency responded in a letter addressed to Burton, and released by him, that there were no actual samples of Jones's urine or blood available because the official laboratories had already discarded them since they were negative based on "routine screens".

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "an actual sample of", ensure that the sample is indeed genuine and accurately represents the larger group or phenomenon you are discussing.

Common error

Avoid implying that "an actual sample of" is perfectly representative if it has limitations or biases. Acknowledge any potential shortcomings in the sample.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "an actual sample of" functions as a determiner phrase, specifying that a particular sample is real and not theoretical. Ludwig confirms this with various examples, emphasizing its role in identifying genuine instances.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

60%

News & Media

30%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "an actual sample of" is used to emphasize the genuineness of a sample, distinguishing it from hypothetical or theoretical examples. Ludwig AI confirms that the phrase is grammatically correct and commonly appears in scientific, news, and business contexts. When using this phrase, ensure the sample is truly representative and acknowledge any limitations. Alternatives include "a genuine example of" and "a real instance of". This phrase is particularly useful in research or analytical settings where empirical evidence is paramount.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a genuine example of

Replaces "actual sample" with "genuine example", emphasizing authenticity.

a real instance of

Substitutes "sample" with "instance", highlighting a specific occurrence.

a concrete illustration of

Uses "concrete illustration" to stress the tangible nature of the example.

a tangible specimen of

Emphasizes the physical or observable nature of the sample with "tangible specimen".

a representative selection of

Focuses on the representativeness of the chosen sample.

a verified case of

Highlights the confirmed or validated nature of the example.

a factual demonstration of

Stresses the truthfulness and evidentiary nature of the sample.

a living embodiment of

Presents the sample as a personification or strong representation.

a physical manifestation of

Highlights the real-world expression of an idea or concept

an empirical case of

Highlights the origin of the example from experiments and real-world evidence.

FAQs

How can I use "an actual sample of" in a research paper?

In research, use "an actual sample of" to refer to specific data or specimens collected for analysis. For instance, "The study analyzed an actual sample of blood taken from patients with the disease."

What's the difference between "a hypothetical sample of" and "an actual sample of"?

"An actual sample of" refers to real, collected data, whereas "a hypothetical sample of" involves data created for modeling or illustrative purposes and is not based on real-world observations.

Can I use "a real sample of" instead of "an actual sample of"?

Yes, "a real sample of" is a valid and often interchangeable alternative to "an actual sample of". Both emphasize the genuineness of the sample.

In what contexts is it most appropriate to use "an actual sample of"?

The phrase is most appropriate in contexts where you want to emphasize that the data or item being discussed is not theoretical or simulated but is instead derived from real-world observation or experimentation. This is especially common in scientific, research, and analytical contexts.