gather a sample

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "gather a sample" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in contexts where you need to collect a representative portion of something for analysis or testing. Example: "Before conducting the experiment, we need to gather a sample of the soil from different locations."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

9 human-written examples

School shootings are so rare, there's just no way to gather a sample size large enough to draw any conclusions.

The Washington Post

A cotton swab is rubbed against the back of your throat to gather a sample of mucus.

Harvard University

The central problem of price-data collection is to gather a sample of prices representative of the various price quotations for each of the commodities under study.

Britannica

Considering that the course was undertaken by 2,303 students, we were able to gather a sample of 913 students thus reaching a representative sample of 39.6 %.

International Journal of Educational Technology in Higher Education

Since it's not easy to gather a sample of each babka available in New York City, we will have to schedule Babka Tasting: The Sequel.

Huffington Post

They'd like to set up the printers in SMRO's facility, and then gather a sample of patients in need of lower arm prosthetics.

Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

51 human-written examples

Based on an experience sampling design, we gathered a sample of 97 eldercare workers who provided data on 721 experience-sampling occasions.

Journal of Vocational Behavior

We gathered a sample of 142 catchments that have a documented increase in urban areas over the hydrometeorological record period in the United States.

Journal of Hydrology

Aczel, along with Bence Palfi and Zoltan Kekecs, two other psychology researchers at Eotvos Lorand University, gathered a sample of stories — 180 in all — from news sites, blogs, forums and other publicly available literature in which an action was described that might be characterized as stupid.

Independent

Balazs, along with Bence Palfi and Zoltan Kekecs, two other psychology researchers at Eotvos Lorand University, gathered a sample of stories — 180 in all — from news sites, blogs, forums and other publicly available literature in which an action was described that might be characterised as stupid.

Independent

The study was conducted online in October and November 2013 and gathered a sample of about 9,000 authors of different kinds.

Forbes

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing scientific papers or reports, clearly define the population you are sampling from to ensure that readers understand the scope and limitations of your "gather a sample" method.

Common error

Avoid assuming that your "gather a sample" method guarantees a representative sample. Always validate your sampling method to ensure it accurately reflects the broader population; otherwise, your conclusions might be biased.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "gather a sample" functions as a verb phrase followed by a noun phrase, indicating an action (gathering) performed on a specific object (a sample). Ludwig AI indicates that this is a correct and usable English phrase.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

52%

News & Media

36%

Academia

12%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "gather a sample" is a grammatically sound phrase used to describe the act of collecting a representative portion for analysis, as affirmed by Ludwig AI. It appears most frequently in scientific and news contexts, indicating a neutral to formal register. When using this phrase, ensure your sampling method is representative to avoid biased conclusions. Alternatives such as /s/collect+a+specimen or /s/obtain+a+sampling can be used depending on the context. Remember to clearly define the source population of your sample in reports.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

collect a specimen

Emphasizes the collection of a single item for analysis.

obtain a sampling

Highlights the process of obtaining a representative selection.

acquire a subset

Focuses on obtaining a smaller group from a larger one.

procure a selection

Suggests a more formal or deliberate acquisition of a sample.

draw a representative sample

Specifies that the sample should accurately reflect the larger population.

take a measurement

Suggests a procedure where you are taking some measures from a group.

run an extract

Suggests to extrapolate the sample using a process.

compile a set

Highlights the creation of an entire set.

assemble a collection

Focuses on creating an entire collection.

secure an excerpt

The sample should be a short one.

FAQs

What does "gather a sample" mean in research?

In research, "gather a sample" means to collect a subset of data or individuals from a larger population. This sample is then analyzed to make inferences about the entire population.

How can I use "gather a sample" in a sentence?

You can use "gather a sample" like this: "The researchers had to /s/collect+a+sample before starting the experiment" or "We need to /s/draw+a+representative+sample to ensure our data is accurate".

What are some alternatives to "gather a sample"?

Alternatives include /s/collect+a+specimen, /s/obtain+a+sampling, or /s/acquire+a+subset. The best choice depends on the specific context.

Is it better to "gather a sample" or "collect data"?

"Gather a sample" refers specifically to collecting a subset, while "collect data" is a broader term that includes gathering all relevant information, not just a representative subset. Both might be appropriate depending on the situation.