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Since I tried Ludwig back in 2017, I have been constantly using it in both editing and translation. Ever since, I suggest it to my translators at ProSciEditing.

Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak
CEO of Professional Science Editing for Scientists @ prosciediting.com
data were unavailable
Grammar usage guide and real-world examplesUSAGE SUMMARY
The phrase "data were unavailable" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when indicating that specific information or statistics could not be accessed or obtained. Example: "Due to technical issues, the data were unavailable for the analysis we intended to conduct."
✓ Grammatically correct
Science
News & Media
Table of contents
Usage summary
Human-verified examples
Expert writing tips
Linguistic context
Ludwig's wrap-up
Alternative expressions
FAQs
Human-verified examples from authoritative sources
Exact Expressions
60 human-written examples
After eliminating funds for which requisite data were unavailable, the database contained just over 1,000 funds.
News & Media
We excluded some IPOs from analysis because data were unavailable.
Science
This was a preliminary study, and the aforementioned data were unavailable during its design.
Science
Donors were excluded if cost and/or hospital-stay data were unavailable.
Science
Change data were unavailable due to cloud cover in 2002, 2006 and 2009.
(Data were unavailable for 7.9% of inhabitants).
Wiki
Data were unavailable on over-the-counter purchases of high-dose aspirin and low-dose ibuprofen dosing schedules.
News & Media
Complete data were unavailable from 1 patient.
Science
When data were unavailable or not stated explicitly, the reviewers coded the information as "not reported".
Science
Data were unavailable for 16.5%.
Science
Comparison data were unavailable for previous caesarean.
Science
Expert writing Tips
Best practice
When using "data were unavailable", specify the reason if known (e.g., "due to technical issues" or "because of privacy restrictions") to provide context and transparency.
Common error
Avoid using "data was unavailable". "Data" is a plural noun, so it requires a plural verb form like "were". The correct phrase is "data were unavailable".
Source & Trust
83%
Authority and reliability
4.5/5
Expert rating
Real-world application tested
Linguistic Context
The phrase "data were unavailable" functions as a statement indicating that specific information or statistics could not be accessed or obtained. Ludwig confirms its usability in written English.
Frequent in
Science
80%
News & Media
10%
Wiki
5%
Less common in
Formal & Business
3%
Encyclopedias
1%
Reference
1%
Ludwig's WRAP-UP
In summary, the phrase "data were unavailable" is a grammatically correct and commonly used expression to indicate that specific data could not be accessed or obtained, as confirmed by Ludwig. It is predominantly used in formal and scientific contexts, particularly within research papers and reports. When using this phrase, consider specifying the reason for the unavailability to provide additional context. While there are several alternative phrases, such as "data was not available" or "information was missing", it's crucial to maintain grammatical accuracy by using "were" with the plural noun "data".
More alternative expressions(10)
Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:
data was not available
Changes plural "data were" to singular "data was" to match singular verb agreement.
information was not accessible
Replaces "data" with "information" and "unavailable" with "not accessible", focusing on the accessibility aspect.
information was missing
Uses simpler language to indicate the absence of information.
data could not be obtained
Focuses on the inability to acquire the data, using a more formal tone.
data was unobtainable
Replaces "unavailable" with the single-word synonym "unobtainable".
no data existed
Indicates that the data did not exist at all, rather than just being inaccessible.
data were not provided
Shifts the focus to the source of the data, indicating that it was not supplied.
data were lacking
Uses "lacking" as a synonym for "unavailable", emphasizing the deficiency of data.
data were absent
Emphasizes the complete absence of data.
the dataset was incomplete
Highlights that the entire dataset was not fully present.
FAQs
How do I use "data were unavailable" in a sentence?
Use "data were unavailable" to indicate that specific information could not be accessed or obtained. For example: "Due to technical issues, the data were unavailable for the analysis."
What can I say instead of "data were unavailable"?
You can use alternatives like "data was not available", "information was missing", or "data could not be obtained" depending on the context.
Is it correct to say "data was unavailable"?
No, it's grammatically incorrect. "Data" is a plural noun and requires the plural verb "were". The correct phrase is "data were unavailable".
Which is more appropriate: "data were unavailable" or "information was unavailable"?
Both are grammatically correct, but they have slightly different connotations. "Data were unavailable" is used when referring to specific sets of data, while "information was unavailable" is more general. Choose the phrase that best fits the context.
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Table of contents
Usage summary
Human-verified examples
Expert writing tips
Linguistic context
Ludwig's wrap-up
Alternative expressions
FAQs
Source & Trust
83%
Authority and reliability
4.5/5
Expert rating
Real-world application tested