data were collected

USAGE SUMMARY

The part of the sentence "data were collected" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you are discussing the collection of data in a research project or other study. For example, "We conducted a survey to gather data, and the data were collected over the course of one week."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

Academia

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Data were collected prospectively.

Journal of Vascular Surgery

Data were collected anonymously.

American Journal of Infection Control

All data were collected at 25 °C.

Nature

Acoustic data were collected as follows.

Nature

The data were collected in 2006.

Stanford University

Data were collected between 2003 - 2005.

Princeton University

Data were collected in 2005 and 2006.

Stanford University

Survival data were collected for two years.

Stanford University

Data were collected with 636 young women.

Harvard University

Data were collected using questionnaire.

Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences

Data were collected by questionnaire.

International Journal of Nursing Studies

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing scientific or academic papers, use "data were collected" to clearly state the action of gathering information for your research.

Common error

Avoid using "data was collected". "Data" is a plural noun in formal writing; therefore, it requires the plural verb form "were".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "data were collected" functions as a passive construction, indicating that the data is the recipient of the action. It is commonly used to describe the process of gathering information in a systematic way, as shown by Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

55%

Academia

35%

News & Media

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "data were collected" is a grammatically correct and widely used expression, as Ludwig AI confirms. Predominantly found in scientific and academic writing, this passive construction objectively describes the process of gathering information. While "data was collected" is increasingly heard informally, maintaining "data were collected" in formal contexts is recommended. Alternatives like "information was obtained" or "measurements were taken" can provide variety, but ensure they fit the specific context. Using this phrase correctly strengthens the clarity and professionalism of your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

data was gathered

Replaces "collected" with "gathered", implying a slightly more active process of bringing the data together.

information was obtained

Substitutes "data" with "information" and "collected" with "obtained", focusing on the acquisition of knowledge.

evidence was compiled

Replaces "data" with "evidence" and "collected" with "compiled", suggesting a more structured organization of the information.

measurements were taken

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

statistics were recorded

Specifies the type of data as "statistics" and uses "recorded" instead of "collected", emphasizing the act of noting down numerical data.

responses were gathered

Implies the data collected were responses from a survey or questionnaire.

samples were analyzed

Suggests a scientific data collection and analysis process.

observations were noted

Indicates a collection of data through direct observation and documentation.

readings were acquired

Implies data collected from a sensor or measuring instrument.

figures were reported

Specifies data as numerical figures and implies official reporting.

FAQs

Is it correct to say "data was collected"?

While increasingly common in informal usage, formally, "data" is a plural noun, so the grammatically correct form is "data were collected".

What are some alternatives to "data were collected"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives such as "information was obtained", "measurements were taken", or "evidence was compiled".

How to use "data were collected" in a sentence?

You can use it like this: "The study participants completed surveys, and the data were collected over a period of six months."

What's the difference between "data were collected prospectively" and "data were collected retrospectively"?

"Data were collected prospectively" means the data were gathered as events unfolded. "Data were collected retrospectively" means the data were gathered from past records.