data at hand

USAGE SUMMARY

The term "data at hand" is correct and can be used in written English.
You can use it when referring to information or evidence that is currently available or easily accessible. For example, "Based on the data at hand, it appears that the research project was a success."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

This is probably caused by limitations of the experimental data at hand.

Journal of Biomechanics

They may fit the data at hand well in practical applications.

Computers & Industrial Engineering

Humankind never ceases to express itself in new terms, and the data at hand are inevitably flawed and partial.

The Guardian - Books

Interval-based uncertainty models have proven to be well-suited for structural safety engineering with few data at hand.

Computers & Structures

Importantly, the Wiener filters can be calibrated with the data at hand, without the need for auxiliary data.

Remote Sensing of Environment

With the data at hand, investigators were unable to determine if the jet's pings were north or south of its last known primary radar sighting.

The Guardian

I'll try to minimize my own subjective bias in what follows by sticking as closely as possible to the data at hand.

The Guardian

With So Much Data At Hand, Why Are Leaders So Confused And Badly Informed?

Forbes

This means, first and foremost, that the outcome of the colligation must be sufficient to explain the data at hand.

SEP

Identifying outliers is essential to the data analyst in order to make reliable inferences on the data at hand.

Journal of Statistical Distributions and Applications

These tools are based solely on the data at hand and do not need any additional parametric or statistical assumptions.

SERIEs

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "data at hand" when you want to emphasize that the information is not only available but also readily accessible and relevant to the current discussion or analysis.

Common error

Avoid using "data at hand" in every situation. Sometimes, simpler alternatives like "available data" or "existing information" are more appropriate and less repetitive.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "data at hand" functions as a noun phrase acting as an adverbial modifier, specifying the basis for a judgment or action. It indicates that the decision is informed by the currently available information, as affirmed by Ludwig AI.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

65%

News & Media

20%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Reference

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "data at hand" is a grammatically correct and very common expression used to emphasize that decisions or analyses are based on readily available and relevant information. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's appropriate for various contexts, especially in science, news, and formal settings. While alternatives like "available data" or "existing information" exist, "data at hand" specifically highlights the immediacy and relevance of the information being considered. When using this phrase, remember to focus on the current discussion or analysis and avoid overusing it for better writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

readily available data

Amplifies the ease of access but can be slightly more verbose.

available data

Focuses on the availability of the data, omitting the immediacy implied by "at hand".

information available

Similar to "available data", but with a slightly different word order.

accessible information

Highlights the ease of reaching the information, omitting the relevance.

existing information

Emphasizes the presence of information, but lacks the sense of accessibility.

current data

Highlights the timeliness of the data, rather than its accessibility.

present data

Emphasizes the current existence of the data, rather than its accessibility.

relevant data

Focuses on the pertinence of the data, not necessarily its immediate availability.

the data in question

Focuses on specific data being discussed or analyzed, rather than general data availability.

evidence available

Replaces "data" with "evidence", suggesting a more supportive or conclusive role.

FAQs

How can I use "data at hand" in a sentence?

You can use "data at hand" to indicate that you are making a decision or drawing a conclusion based on the information that is currently available. For example, "Based on the "data at hand", we can conclude that the project is on track."

What's the difference between "data at hand" and "available data"?

"Data at hand" implies that the data is not only available but also readily accessible and pertinent to the current situation. "Available data" simply means that the data exists and can be accessed, without necessarily implying immediate relevance.

What are some alternatives to "data at hand"?

You can use alternatives like "available data", "existing information", or "relevant data" depending on the context.

Is it appropriate to use "data at hand" in formal writing?

Yes, "data at hand" is appropriate for formal writing, particularly in scientific, academic, or business contexts. It clearly and concisely conveys the idea that decisions or conclusions are based on the information currently available.