look at the data

USAGE SUMMARY

"look at the data" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to instruct someone to review facts or figures for a given situation. For example, "Let's look at the data to see how our sales have increased over the last quarter."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

But look at the data.

The New Yorker

"We need to look at the data".

The New York Times

Then take a look at the data.

Independent

Look at the data on Eritreans.

Independent

You look at the data.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

"Look at the data," he says.

The Guardian

"Look at the data," he continued.

The New York Times

vom Saal: Look at the data.

Yale University

Still, let's look at the data.

Harvard Business Review

We'll have to look at the data".

Independent

Look at the data, try and be wise".

The Guardian - Business

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When presenting data, use "look at the data" to encourage your audience to consider the objective evidence alongside your interpretation.

Common error

Avoid making decisions based solely on summary statistics (e.g., averages) without first using "look at the data" to understand the distribution, outliers, and potential biases within the dataset.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "look at the data" functions as an imperative, directly instructing someone to examine the provided information. As confirmed by Ludwig, this phrase is usable in written English and calls for a review of facts and figures relevant to a situation.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

48%

Academia

20%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Science

10%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "look at the data" is a grammatically correct and highly versatile imperative phrase that encourages objective examination of facts and figures. As indicated by Ludwig, it's widely used across various contexts, especially in news, academia, and business, to promote informed decision-making. The phrase is supported by numerous authoritative sources and can be effectively replaced by synonyms like "examine the data" or "analyze the data" to add nuance. Remember to avoid relying solely on summary statistics without first examining the underlying data for a comprehensive understanding.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

examine the data

Replaces "look" with a more formal synonym, "examine", suggesting a detailed analysis.

analyze the data

Uses "analyze" to emphasize a structured and methodical investigation of the data.

review the data

Suggests a careful and systematic inspection of the data.

consider the data

Emphasizes thoughtful deliberation and evaluation of the data.

inspect the data

Implies a close and careful observation of the data for specific details.

study the data

Replaces "look" with "study", suggesting a more academic or in-depth investigation.

scrutinize the data

Uses "scrutinize" to convey a very detailed and critical examination of the data.

assess the data

Focuses on evaluating the data to form a judgment.

investigate the data

Implies a systematic or formal inquiry into the data to uncover facts.

interpret the data

Suggests understanding and explaining the meaning of the data.

FAQs

How can I use "look at the data" in a sentence?

You can use "look at the data" to suggest examining information, such as in: "Before making a decision, let's "look at the data" to understand the trends."

What are some alternatives to "look at the data"?

Alternatives include "examine the data", "analyze the data", or "review the data", each emphasizing a slightly different aspect of data assessment.

Is it better to say "look at the data" or "analyze the data"?

The choice depends on the context. "Look at the data" is a general suggestion to observe the information. "Analyze the data", on the other hand, implies a more in-depth and methodical investigation.

In what situations is "look at the data" most appropriate?

"Look at the data" is particularly appropriate when you want to encourage a neutral, objective review of information before drawing conclusions or making decisions.