incomplete data

USAGE SUMMARY

"incomplete data" is correct and usable in written English.
You could use this phrase when referring to data or information that has not been collected in its entirety or that is missing important pieces. For example, "The results of this study are inconclusive due to incomplete data."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Recovering voter choice from partial incomplete data.

University of California, Berkeley

Statistical and computational methods for inferring images from incomplete data.

Stanford University

Maximum Likelihood from Incomplete Data via the EM Algorithm.

Harvard University

Incomplete data excluded 89 countries from the 2008 report.

Columbia University

Maximum Likelihood From Incomplete Data via the EM Algorithm.

Cornell University

(They represented a smaller percentage of online sales, for which only incomplete data were available).

The New York Times

Most scientists have messy data, contradictory data, incomplete data, ambiguous data.

The Guardian

During the Bush years, such criticism was based on anecdotes and incomplete data.

The New York Times

This is largely because police departments offer poorly structured or incomplete data about their behavior.

The New Yorker

The incomplete data showed that nonwhite women have an exceptionally hard time climbing the corporate ladder.

The New York Times

First, the 14-page study is relatively unsophisticated and is based on incomplete data.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When presenting findings based on "incomplete data", acknowledge the limitations transparently to maintain credibility.

Common error

Avoid drawing definitive conclusions from "incomplete data". Instead, frame findings as preliminary or suggestive, indicating the need for further research.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "incomplete data" functions primarily as a noun phrase, where "incomplete" acts as an adjective modifying the noun "data". As Ludwig highlights, it is used to describe datasets that are not fully populated or lack certain pieces of information.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

37%

News & Media

35%

Academia

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

8%

Reference

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "incomplete data" is a common phrase used to describe datasets lacking certain information. As Ludwig underlines, it's grammatically correct and finds frequent application across various domains, including science, news, academia, and business. Its purpose is to acknowledge data limitations or qualify research findings. When writing, it's important to be transparent about the implications of "incomplete data" and avoid overstating conclusions. While alternatives like ""partial data"" or ""missing data"" exist, the core meaning remains consistent. Always consider the context and audience when using this phrase, and acknowledge the potential impact of data limitations on your analysis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

partial data

Indicates that only a portion of the data is available, emphasizing the lack of wholeness.

missing data

Directly points to the absence of certain data points within a dataset.

fragmentary data

Suggests the data is broken into pieces, implying a lack of cohesion and potentially reliability.

deficient data

Highlights the inadequacy of the data, implying it's not sufficient for the intended purpose.

limited data

Emphasizes the restricted quantity of data available for analysis.

sketchy data

Implies that the data is not only incomplete but also potentially unreliable or untrustworthy.

patchy data

Indicates that the data is unevenly distributed, with gaps and inconsistencies.

flawed data

Highlights that data has shortcomings or imperfection which could lead to inaccurate conclusions.

inadequate data

It is a more general term for describing data insufficient for a specific requirement.

uncompleted data

This phrase indicates that data hasn't been fully gathered or processed, implying a task that is not yet finished.

FAQs

How can I use "incomplete data" in a sentence?

You can use "incomplete data" to describe situations where information is missing or not fully available. For example, "The study's conclusions are limited due to "incomplete data" collection."

What are some alternatives to saying "incomplete data"?

Alternatives include phrases like "partial data", "missing data", or "fragmentary data", each conveying a slightly different nuance.

Is it acceptable to base decisions on "incomplete data"?

While it's not ideal, decisions sometimes must be made with "incomplete data". In such cases, it's crucial to acknowledge the uncertainty and potential risks involved, and to seek additional information whenever possible.

What is the difference between "incomplete data" and "inaccurate data"?

"Incomplete data" refers to missing information, while "inaccurate data" refers to information that is incorrect or contains errors. Both can negatively impact analysis, but they represent different types of data quality issues.