data was collected

USAGE SUMMARY

"data was collected" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to the act of someone collecting information. For example, "A survey was conducted, and data was collected from 500 participants."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

What data was collected?

The New York Times

Initially, that only "fragmentary" data was collected.

The Guardian - Tech

Data was collected in 2007.

Revista Portuguesa de Saúde Pública

Pregnancy outcome data was collected.

European Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology and Reproductive Biology

The data was collected from 273 respondents.

Technological Forecasting and Social Change

Qualitative data was collected using students' journals.

Computers & Education

After ten weeks, posttest data was collected.

Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences

Data was collected from questionnaire survey.

The Asian Journal of Shipping and Logistics

Shear stress data was collected by probing the hydrogel domain.

Nature

Data was collected at least once for each child.

The Guardian

Data was collected from the 44 NASCOLA laboratories who responded.

Stanford University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing research methodology, clearly state the specific methods used to ensure the "data was collected" reliably and validly.

Common error

Avoid using the passive voice without specifying who collected the data. Instead of saying "data was collected", specify who did the collecting: "Researchers collected the data" for clarity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "data was collected" functions as a passive construction, indicating that data underwent the action of collection. Ludwig's examples show its prevalent use across various scientific and journalistic sources.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

68%

News & Media

18%

Academia

9%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "data was collected" is a commonly used passive construction that reports the completion of a data-gathering process. As Ludwig AI points out, it's grammatically correct and widely applicable across diverse contexts, predominantly in science, news, and academic writing. While acceptable, clarifying who collected the data enhances clarity. When you're writing, be sure to specify collection methods when describing research. The phrase is best suited for neutral to formal communication, making it ideal for reports, research papers, and professional articles.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

information was gathered

Replaces "data" with "information" and "collected" with "gathered", focusing on the act of accumulating information.

statistics were compiled

Uses "statistics" to specify the type of data and "compiled" to emphasize the organized collection of data.

evidence was obtained

Emphasizes the acquisition of proof or supporting facts, using "evidence" and "obtained".

measurements were taken

Focuses on quantifiable data, replacing "data" with "measurements" and "collected" with "taken".

results were recorded

Highlights the documentation of outcomes, using "results" and "recorded".

findings were documented

Similar to the above, but uses "findings" to specify the type of results and "documented" to emphasize a formal record.

figures were accumulated

Uses "figures" to refer to numerical data and "accumulated" to suggest a gradual increase in collected data.

a dataset was assembled

Highlights the creation of a structured collection of data, using "dataset" and "assembled".

records were obtained

Emphasizes the retrieval of formal documents or pieces of information, using "records" and "obtained".

observations were noted

Focuses on qualitative data gathered through observation, replacing "data" with "observations" and "collected" with "noted".

FAQs

How can I make my sentence more specific than "data was collected"?

To be more specific than "data was collected", specify what kind of data and how it was collected. For instance, "survey data was collected online", or "clinical data was collected from patient records".

What's a more formal way to say "data was collected"?

In a formal context, instead of "data was collected", you could say "data were acquired", "data were obtained", or "data were compiled". These alternatives offer a more professional tone.

What is the difference between "data was collected" and "data was analyzed"?

"Data was collected" refers to the process of gathering information, while "data was analyzed" indicates that the collected information was examined to draw conclusions. Collection precedes analysis.

Is it better to use active or passive voice when saying "data was collected"?

While "data was collected" (passive voice) is acceptable, using the active voice (e.g., "researchers collected data") can enhance clarity by explicitly stating who performed the data collection.