an ocean of data

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "an ocean of data" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a vast amount of information or data available on a particular subject. Example: "In today's digital age, researchers often find themselves navigating through an ocean of data to extract meaningful insights."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

10 human-written examples

So these are just four waves in an ocean of data.

The New York Times

Even two decades ago, in the days of kilobytes and floppy discs, such an ocean of data would have been far more difficult to capture and carry away.

The New York Times

In the metaphor favored by a research project called Endeavour, centered at the University of California's Berkeley campus, people will feel like fish submerged in an ocean of data.

The New York Times

Creating a little bit of heaven for classical music geeks, the New York Philharmonic has put online an ocean of data about its concerts, dating back to the first one on Dec. 7, 1842.

The New York Times - Arts

It sometimes makes it sound like we are all Scrooge McDuck, but instead of swimming in a pool of cash, we're (joyously?) swimming in an ocean of data.

Forbes

Steve Haindl, the company's chief information officer, says that the processes involved in all of this work both consumes and produces an ocean of data.

Forbes

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

50 human-written examples

But the inspiration that led to Grameen Bank's launch in 1976 came not from the depths of an ocean of market data, but from a personal bond and shared vision built by Yunus and the Bangladeshi farmers living in the village adjacent to Yunus's home and university.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

It is thus crucial to keep educating young scientists as patient free thinkers to avoid the coming of a "dark age" of science, lead by business-minded scientists, that are completely lost in an ocean of faulty data.         .

Vice

It launched a number of counter-measures, including a bulk telephony metadata collection program — a wide net that could find and isolate gossamer contacts among suspected terrorists in an ocean of seemingly disconnected data.

TechCrunch

But there is a price to be paid for that ocean of data, he cautioned, quoting a line from T. S. Eliot: "Where is the knowledge we have lost in information?" So much information brings "more confusion," Mr. Hentoff said.

The New York Times

Then he and his team brought the old adage, "Fix it in post," to its limit, slamming, zooming, cutting, and otherwise editing the pure ocean of data into a dynamic ode to HEALTH's stage presence and the beloved London venue, Il Duomo.

Vice

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the phrase "an ocean of data", ensure the context clearly relates to a situation where a large quantity of information is available, and the challenge lies in navigating or extracting meaning from it.

Common error

Avoid using "an ocean of data" to describe situations where data is scarce or the problem is not about managing volume, but rather about data quality or accessibility.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "an ocean of data" functions as a metaphorical noun phrase, where 'ocean' modifies 'data' to emphasize the vastness and immensity of the information being described. Ludwig examples demonstrate its use to characterize overwhelming amounts of available data.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

30%

Academia

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Social Media

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "an ocean of data" is a versatile metaphor used to describe a large and often overwhelming quantity of information. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically sound and appropriate in various contexts, particularly news, science, and academia. While alternatives like "a sea of information" or "a wealth of data" exist, "an ocean of data" effectively conveys the scale and complexity of modern information challenges. When using this phrase, ensure the context involves both abundant data and the inherent challenges of processing it. The most common authoritative sources that use this phrase are The New York Times, Forbes, and The Guardian. Although the frequency of the expression is uncommon, its usage has a wide range of applicability.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

A sea of information

Replaces 'ocean' with 'sea', a synonym with similar connotations of vastness.

A wealth of data

Emphasizes the abundance and value of the data, rather than its size.

A deluge of data

Suggests an overwhelming and potentially unmanageable amount of data.

A vast amount of data

A more literal and less figurative way to describe the quantity of data.

A mountain of data

Uses a different metaphor, but still conveys the idea of a large and imposing quantity.

Extensive data

A simple, direct way to describe a large collection of data.

A large volume of data

Focuses on the capacity or quantity of data.

Abundant data

Highlights the plentiful supply of data.

A plethora of data

Uses a more formal and less common word to indicate a large quantity.

Copious data

Similar to 'abundant', but perhaps implying a richer, more detailed collection.

FAQs

How can I effectively use "an ocean of data" in a sentence?

Use "an ocean of data" to describe a situation where there's a vast amount of information available, often implying a challenge in analyzing or making sense of it. For example: "Researchers are now faced with "an ocean of data" that needs to be analyzed to find meaningful insights."

What are some alternatives to "an ocean of data"?

You can use alternatives like "a sea of information", "a wealth of data", or "a deluge of data" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "an ocean of data" a formal or informal expression?

The phrase "an ocean of data" is generally considered neutral in tone and can be used in both formal and informal contexts. However, in highly formal or scientific writing, it may be preferable to use a less metaphorical alternative like "extensive data" or "a large volume of data".

In what contexts is "an ocean of data" most commonly used?

As evidenced by Ludwig, "an ocean of data" is frequently used in contexts related to news and media, science, and academia, where large datasets and information analysis are common.