data is lost

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'data is lost' is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to describe a situation where data has become inaccessible and is no longer available, e.g. "Unfortunately, some of the data on the hard drive has been lost due to a technical issue."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

56 human-written examples

"It's not perfect — once the data is lost, it is lost".

The New York Times - Tech

There is a possibility that Oakland PD was not able to release the records because the data is lost.

University of California, Berkeley

Compression can be either lossy (meaning that some data is discarded) or lossless (no data is lost).

Britannica

When a piece of Internet data is lost, it must be resent, increasing the time it takes to communicate with a Web site.

The New York Times

That's not to say that that 1-21-2% data is lost; we're just pulling the good data from the disk array at the moment.

University of California, Berkeley

The reason: If you're not party to an activity when it happens, your chance to capture its data is lost forever.

MIT Technology Review

Often, the data is lost forever in these attacks.

Forbes

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

4 human-written examples

-What other data was lost?

The New York Times

No data was lost, Amazon has said.

The Washington Post

Rusbridger: No data was lost, we lost control of no data.

The Guardian

The N.I.H. waited roughly a month before notifying the patients whose data was lost.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing data loss, specify the type of data lost (e.g., "patient data", "financial records") and, if known, the cause of the loss (e.g., "due to a system failure", "because of a cyberattack"). This provides more context and clarity.

Common error

Avoid assuming that all data loss is catastrophic. Instead, assess and communicate the specific consequences of the loss, which might range from minor inconvenience to significant operational disruption. Frame the impact accurately based on the data's importance and recoverability.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "data is lost" functions as a statement or assertion indicating that information has been irretrievably misplaced or corrupted. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness, with examples showing its wide applicability across different contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Science

30%

Academia

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

10%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "data is lost" is a grammatically sound and commonly used expression to indicate that data is irretrievable or missing. Ludwig AI confirms that it is frequently employed across various domains, including news, science, and academia. When using this phrase, it is helpful to provide context by specifying the type of data and the potential cause of the loss. Alternative phrases such as "data is missing" or "data is unavailable" can offer subtle variations in meaning. Understanding the specific consequences of data loss is vital for accurate communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

data is no longer accessible

Focuses on the inaccessibility of the data, not necessarily implying it's permanently lost.

data is irretrievable

Like “data is unrecoverable”, it highlights the impossibility of getting the data back.

data are missing

Refers to data that should be present but is not, suggesting a problem in collection or storage. It is subtly different, emphasizing absence rather than the process of losing.

data is not available

A more generic way of saying data cannot be found or is not accessible.

data has disappeared

Implies a more mysterious or unexplained vanishing of data, which is more informal than "data is lost".

data vanished

A more abrupt and less formal way to say data is gone.

data is corrupted

Indicates data that is still present but unusable due to errors, representing a related but distinct scenario.

data is unrecoverable

Focuses on the impossibility of retrieving the data, adding a sense of finality to the situation.

data is compromised

Suggests that data has been exposed or accessed without authorization, leading to a different type of loss of integrity or confidentiality.

data has been misplaced

Suggests a temporary loss, implying the data might be found again.

FAQs

What are the common causes of why "data is lost"?

Common causes include hardware failure, software bugs, human error, cyberattacks, natural disasters, and power outages. Implementing regular backups and robust security measures can help prevent "data is lost".

How does "data is lost" impact businesses?

Data loss can lead to operational disruptions, financial losses, reputational damage, legal liabilities, and loss of customer trust. Implementing data recovery plans and cybersecurity protocols are crucial. Regular training and testing will minimize the likelihood that "data is lost".

What steps should be taken immediately after "data is lost"?

Immediately isolate affected systems, assess the extent of the loss, implement data recovery procedures (if possible), notify relevant stakeholders, and conduct a thorough investigation to determine the cause and prevent future occurrences. It’s also essential to keep logs of "data is lost" incidents for auditing and compliance purposes.

What are some alternatives to "data is lost" that highlight the inaccessibility of data?

Alternatives include "data is missing", "data is unavailable", "data is inaccessible", or "data is irretrievable". The choice depends on the specific context and the reason for the data's inaccessibility. Always consider that "data is missing" can signify different severity of the actual problem.