as few data as possible

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "as few data as possible" is not correct in standard English usage; it should be "as little data as possible." You can use it when discussing the need to minimize the amount of data collected or used in a particular context.
Example: "In our research, we aim to gather as little data as possible to ensure participant privacy."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

In principle, as few data as possible shall be put into the cloud [ 58].

BMC Medical Informatics and Decision Making

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

These methods provide a first illustration of the data with as few assumptions as possible on the underlying "true" firing rate.

The Journal of Mathematical Neuroscience (JMN)

Although not free from interpretation, qualitative description attempts to make as few inferences as possible during data analysis [ 28, 29].

BMC Nursing

This is actually based on the principle of parsimony [ 6], i.e., seeking a model that has as few as possible variables to fit the data sufficiently.

BMC Genomics

The goal is to design a protocol for Periodic Data Retrieval using as few agents as possible.

Theoretical Computer Science

Sample size was dependent on tolerability, safety and PK data acquisition while exposing as few patients as possible to study treatment.

British Journal of Cancer

This is because the goal of traditional classification modeling is to construct a function (or a classifier) based on the properties of training data so as to make as few errors as possible when being used to predict the class membership of new samples [ 2].

BMC Medical Informatics and Decision Making

This approach derives summary variables, called principal components, that capture as much variation as possible in as few terms as possible to facilitate dimensionality reduction and data visualization.

Arthritis Research and Therapy

Furthermore, when a user has no data to transmit, it should be allocated with as few resources as possible.

EURASIP Journal on Advances in Signal Processing

Gather as much data as possible.

Forbes

We use as few pieces as possible, so we have as few seams as possible.

Forbes

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Always use "little" with uncountable nouns like data. Instead of saying "as few data as possible", opt for "as little data as possible" to maintain grammatical accuracy.

Common error

Avoid using "few" with uncountable nouns like "data", "information", or "money". "Few" is used for countable nouns. Using "little" in these contexts ensures grammatical correctness and clarity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "as few data as possible" attempts to function as an adverbial modifier, aiming to specify the extent to which data should be used or collected. However, this is grammatically flawed. Ludwig AI points out the error as well.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

35%

Wiki

33%

News & Media

32%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "as few data as possible" is grammatically incorrect. The word "few" is for countable nouns, while "data" is generally treated as an uncountable noun, so it should be "as little data as possible". The intention behind the phrase is to express the need to minimize data usage, whether for efficiency, privacy, or other reasons. As Ludwig AI indicates, although understandable, the phrase should be corrected for formal use, and related phrases like "minimal data usage" may be preferred.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

as little data as possible

Corrects the grammatical error by using "little" for uncountable nouns like "data".

the least amount of data possible

Replaces "few" with "least amount" for better clarity and grammatical correctness.

minimal data usage

Uses a noun phrase to express the concept of minimizing data, focusing on usage.

as few assumptions as possible

Focuses on minimizing assumptions rather than data specifically.

limit data collection

Uses a verb phrase to suggest restricting the process of data gathering.

reduce data requirements

Emphasizes lowering the necessary amount of data.

minimize data input

Highlights reducing the data entered into a system.

as limited data as feasible

Adds a constraint of feasibility to the limited data requirement.

scarce data utilization

Emphasizes the economical or restricted application of data.

restrict data access

Focuses on limiting who can see or use the data.

FAQs

What is the correct way to say "as few data as possible"?

The grammatically correct way to express this is "as little data as possible". "Few" is used with countable nouns, while "little" is used with uncountable nouns like "data".

What does it mean to use "as little data as possible"?

It means to minimize the amount of data used or collected in a particular situation. This might be to protect privacy, reduce storage costs, or simplify analysis.

Are there other ways to phrase the concept of minimizing data usage?

Yes, you can use alternatives such as "minimal data usage", "the least amount of data possible", or "limit data collection".

Why is "as few data as possible" considered grammatically incorrect?

Because "data" is an uncountable noun in standard English, and "few" is reserved for countable nouns. The correct quantifier to use with uncountable nouns is "little".