sheer volume of data

USAGE SUMMARY

"sheer volume of data" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use this phrase when referring to a large amount of data or information. For example, "The sheer volume of data collected by the study was overwhelming."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

54 human-written examples

'Part of the growth, however, is fuelled by the sheer volume of data out there about people - especially on social networking sites.' · Keep an eye on your mail.

The Guardian - Money

The sheer volume of data being transmitted and stored is also set to explode.

The Guardian

Often, sifting through the sheer volume of data available is daunting.

Harvard Business Review

And once that's out of the way, the sheer volume of data available can quickly become overwhelming.

The Guardian

But the sheer volume of data contained in the initial batch soon overwhelmed the German newspaper's five-person investigations team.

The New York Times

The two men also seemed to acknowledge that the sheer volume of data was beyond the commission's capacity to analyze.

The New York Times

Yet the importance of the sheer volume of data — and its exponential growth path — can be overstated.

The New York Times

In the near term, at least, the sheer volume of data will limit the sorts of conclusions that can be drawn.

The Guardian - Tech

The sheer volume of data generated was also unprecedented – in one night the EHT generated enough data to fill half a tonne of hard drives.

The Guardian

The first is the sheer volume of data and number crunching involved in creating a virtual color 3-D object, even before the printing begins.

MIT Technology Review

It can answer more questions correctly than Apple's Siri in my testing, but can't quite match the sheer volume of data that Google's Assistant has access to.

The Guardian - Tech

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "sheer volume of data" to underscore challenges related to storage, management, and interpretation.

Common error

Don't just state the "sheer volume of data" without explaining its consequences. Always connect the quantity to a relevant challenge or opportunity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "sheer volume of data" typically functions as a noun phrase, often serving as the subject or object of a sentence. It describes a large quantity of data, emphasizing its scale and potential impact. Ludwig AI confirms that the phrase is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

39%

Science

35%

Formal & Business

26%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "sheer volume of data" is a commonly used and grammatically correct term to describe a large quantity of information. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is widely accepted in written English. With multiple examples across news, scientific, and business contexts, it highlights the scale and impact of data. When using this phrase, it's important to consider the consequences of the quantity, like the challenges it poses for processing and analysis. Alternatives such as "vast amount of data" or "data deluge" can provide similar emphasis. Whether formal or informal, its implications often refer to managing, storing, and interpreting this vast information.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

vast amount of data

Replaces "sheer volume" with "vast amount", emphasizing the extent of the data.

large quantity of data

Substitutes "sheer volume" with "large quantity", focusing on the measure of data.

extensive data

Condenses the phrase to a single adjective, highlighting the comprehensiveness of the data.

massive data sets

Focuses on the size and collection aspect using "massive" and "data sets".

substantial data

Emphasizes the significance and amount of data available.

overwhelming amount of data

Highlights that the amount of data is so large that it becomes difficult to handle.

profusion of data

Indicates an abundance or excessive amount of data.

data deluge

Uses a metaphor to describe an overwhelming influx of data.

data overload

Highlights the negative impact of having too much data.

data explosion

Uses the term explosion to describe a rapid increase in the amount of data.

FAQs

How can I use "sheer volume of data" in a sentence?

You can use "sheer volume of data" to emphasize the difficulty in processing or analyzing large datasets, such as, "The project stalled due to the "sheer volume of data" that needed to be processed".

What's the difference between "sheer volume of data" and "large amount of data"?

"Sheer volume of data" emphasizes not just the size but also the overwhelming or challenging aspect of dealing with that quantity, whereas "large amount of data" simply notes the quantity. You can use alternatives like "vast amount of data", "huge amount of data" or "massive amount of data".

What are some alternatives to "sheer volume of data"?

Alternatives include "data deluge", "data overload", or "data explosion", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey. These terms often imply the challenges associated with managing the large amount of data.

Is "sheer volume of data" formal or informal?

The phrase "sheer volume of data" is suitable for both formal and informal contexts. It is commonly used in news reports, scientific articles, and business documents. According to Ludwig AI it "is correct" and usable in written English.