billions of data

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "billions of data" is not correct in standard English usage.
The correct term would be "billions of data points" or "billions of pieces of data." Example: "The research study analyzed billions of data points to draw its conclusions."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

23 human-written examples

Match.com President Mandy Ginsberg said the company has billions of data points it can analyze.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

New type of database-analytics platform queries and maps billions of data points in milliseconds.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

But with our mere billions of data points we're not quite ready for it.

Harvard Business Review

Researchers compiled billions of data points from tracking systems that the International Maritime Organization requires for about 70,000 fishing vessels.

The Washington Post

Literally billions of data points are analyzed to understand if or where something might have gone wrong in one of the 1,626 layers that make up the part.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Instead of the oceans being a black hole of data, our new challenge is figuring out ways to intelligently and efficiently sift through the billions of data points now pouring in.

Yale University

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

37 human-written examples

"Millions of data points," says Teige.

University of California, Berkeley

They collect thousands of data points a day.

MIT Technology Review

These studies and projects have quickly recruited thousands of people, contributing millions of data points.

The Guardian

None of the millions of data points modeled was our data.

The New York Times

The company managed to get hold of millions of data points of very sensitive data from Facebook users.

Harvard University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When referring to large quantities of data, specify that you are referring to "data points" or "pieces of data" to ensure grammatical correctness. For example, use "billions of data points" instead of "billions of data".

Common error

Avoid using "data" as a countable noun. Although commonly used, it is grammatically more accurate to say "data points" or "pieces of data" when quantifying data.

Linguistic Context

The phrase “billions of data” functions as a noun phrase, aiming to quantify a large amount of information. However, it's grammatically less precise than alternatives like “billions of data points.” According to Ludwig, using “data points” is more accurate.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

48%

Academia

32%

Formal & Business

20%

Less common in

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase “billions of data” is commonly used to describe large datasets, it's generally considered grammatically incorrect. Ludwig recommends using more precise alternatives like “billions of data points” or “billions of pieces of data” for improved accuracy and clarity. Usage is common across news, academic, and business contexts, but authoritative and formal writing benefits from the more precise alternatives, especially when quantifying information. Remember to specify "data points" to ensure grammatical correctness.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

billions of data points

Specifies the individual units of information within the large dataset.

billions of pieces of data

Emphasizes the individual components that comprise the overall dataset.

massive amounts of data

Uses a more general term to describe the large quantity of information.

extensive data sets

Highlights the comprehensive nature and scope of the data.

huge quantities of data

Focuses on the sheer volume of data involved.

large-scale data

Indicates the data's significance and broad impact.

vast amounts of information

Substitutes 'data' with 'information', offering a broader perspective.

big data sets

Uses the popular 'big data' term to describe the data's complexity and volume.

immense data resources

Highlights the value and potential of the large data collection.

significant data volumes

Emphasizes the notable size of the data involved.

FAQs

Is it grammatically correct to say "billions of data"?

While commonly used, the phrase "billions of data" is grammatically incorrect. It's more accurate to say "billions of "data points"" or "billions of pieces of data".

What's the difference between "billions of data" and "billions of data points"?

"Billions of data" is a less precise and grammatically questionable way to refer to a large quantity of information. "Billions of "data points"" specifies that you're counting individual units of information, making it more accurate.

What are some alternatives to "billions of data"?

Alternatives include "massive amounts of "data"", "extensive "data sets"", or "huge quantities of "data"". For improved accuracy, consider "billions of "data points"" or "billions of pieces of data".

How can I use the phrase "billions of data" correctly in a sentence?

To use the concept correctly, rephrase your sentence to use "billions of "data points"" or "billions of pieces of data". For example, instead of "The study analyzed billions of data", say "The study analyzed billions of data points to identify trends."