missing data were

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "missing data were" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to data that either was not collected or was not saved. For example, "Due to a computer malfunction, some of the survey results were lost, and the missing data were never recovered."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The missing data were <1%.

Annals of Intensive Care

Charts with missing data were deleted.

International Journal of Emergency Medicine

Respondents with missing data were also excluded.

Large-scale Assessments in Education

No missing data were reported.

BMC Genomics

No missing data were imputed.

Annals of Surgical Oncology

Overall missing data were less than 10%.

BMC Health Services Research

We assumed that missing data were failures.

Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews

Invalid or missing data were excluded.

Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases

No assumptions for missing data were made.

Critical Care

Patients with missing data were excluded.

Breast Cancer Research and Treatment

371 individuals with missing data were excluded.

BMC Family Practice

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When reporting "missing data were", always specify the percentage or amount of missing data to provide context and allow readers to assess the potential impact on your analysis.

Common error

Avoid using vague language when describing how "missing data were" handled. Clearly state whether the data were excluded, imputed, or otherwise accounted for in your analysis to maintain transparency and rigor.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "missing data were" functions as a descriptive statement, typically used within scientific or research contexts. It indicates the absence or unavailability of certain data points within a dataset. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrasing is grammatically sound and commonly used.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

95%

Formal & Business

3%

News & Media

1%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "missing data were" is a grammatically correct and commonly used phrase primarily found in scientific and academic writing. As Ludwig AI highlights, it serves to describe the condition of a dataset when some data points are absent. When using this phrase, clarity is key: always specify the extent of the missing data and how it was handled in your analysis. While alternatives like "data were missing" or "data were incomplete" exist, "missing data were" maintains a formal and precise tone suitable for technical contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

data were missing

This alternative reverses the order of "missing" and "data", changing the emphasis slightly but preserving the core meaning.

some data were absent

Replaces "missing" with "absent", which is a more formal synonym.

data were incomplete

Replaces "missing" with "incomplete", offering a more formal and potentially less accusatory tone.

data points were lost

Uses "lost" to imply that the data existed at one point but are no longer available.

certain data were unavailable

Highlights the lack of accessibility of the data, rather than simply its absence.

the data had gaps

This uses 'gaps' metaphorically to refer to missing information, making the phrase less formal.

there were data gaps

Similar to 'the data had gaps', but uses a different sentence structure.

the dataset had omissions

Uses the term "omissions" to refer to the missing parts of the dataset, sounding more technical.

not all data were present

Emphasizes the absence by stating that not all expected data were available.

information was lacking

Shifts focus from 'data' to 'information', using 'lacking' to indicate absence.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "missing data were" in a research paper?

You can use alternatives like "data were missing", "data were incomplete", or "data points were lost" depending on the specific context.

Is it better to say "data was missing" or "missing data were"?

In most academic and scientific contexts, "missing data were" is preferred when referring to a collection of data points, as "data" is often treated as a plural noun. However, usage can vary, so consider the specific field's conventions.

What does it mean when a study reports that "missing data were imputed"?

It means that the researchers used statistical methods to estimate and fill in the missing values, rather than simply excluding those data points from their analysis. This can help to reduce bias and increase the statistical power of the study.

How should I handle "missing data were" in a survey analysis?

Common approaches include excluding cases with missing data (listwise deletion), imputing missing values using various statistical techniques, or using methods that can handle missing data directly, such as maximum likelihood estimation.