swaths of data

USAGE SUMMARY

"swaths of data" is an acceptable phrase to use in written English.
You can use this phrase to describe a large amount of data that must be analyzed. For example, "We have to go through swaths of data in order to find the information we need."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Tech

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

16 human-written examples

Lupi's postcards are almost forensic: swaths of data encoded in painstakingly hand-drawn devices.

The Guardian - Arts

But BGP also allows huge swaths of data to be "hijacked" by almost anyone with the necessary skills and access.

The Washington Post

The rapid growth of social media and personal technology has given insurance companies and employers swaths of data they can access to analyse customers or employees.

The Guardian - Tech

We're adapting them and bringing in new swaths of data that banks don't look at, like Twitter". But he is vague about how that data will be used.

The Guardian - Business

Viktor Mayer-Schönberger, professor of internet governance and regulation at the Oxford Internet Institute, also warns against humans seeing causation when an algorithm identifies a correlation in vast swaths of data.

The Guardian

Hartley told jurors she had no idea her conduct could be questioned by police and hit out at the decision of the Sun's then-publisher, News International, to hand over swaths of data to the Met.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

44 human-written examples

This allows MAVEN to gather a north-south swath of data with each pass.

University of California, Berkeley

She then used RNA sequencing to capture a huge swath of data on genes in the bone.

Cornell University

The GDP figures were part of a swath of data released on Monday giving another snapshot of the world's second biggest economy, which has seen stuttering growth in recent months after years of rapid expansion.

The Guardian - Business

According to Transcriptic, its services enable scientists to work remotely with a wide swath of data and automated equipment that can produce low-cost results in days.

TechCrunch

According to Transcriptic, its services enable scientists to work remotely with a wide swath of data and automated equipment that can produce low-cost results in days.

TechCrunch

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "swaths of data", ensure the context emphasizes the need to process or analyze this large quantity of information.

Common error

Avoid using "swaths of data" when referring to small or easily manageable datasets. This phrase implies a considerable undertaking in terms of analysis and processing.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "swaths of data" functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as the object of a verb or preposition. It describes a substantial amount of data, often implying the need for analysis or processing. This is supported by Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

55%

Tech

25%

Academia

20%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "swaths of data" is a valid and useful expression for describing large quantities of data that require analysis. As confirmed by Ludwig, it functions as a noun phrase, commonly used in News & Media, Tech and Academia, suggesting a neutral register. When using this phrase, it's important to emphasize the scale and the implication of processing a substantial amount of information. Related phrases include "large amounts of data" or "vast quantities of data", offering similar meanings. When using this phrase, ensure that you are indeed referring to a substantial undertaking, and not a small or easily manageable set of information.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

large amounts of data

Replaces "swaths" with a more general term, indicating a significant quantity without the implication of being spread out.

vast quantities of data

Emphasizes the sheer size of the data being considered.

significant volumes of data

Highlights the magnitude of data in a formal tone, suitable for technical contexts.

extensive collections of data

Focuses on the comprehensiveness of the data gathered.

massive datasets

Implies the data is structured and ready for analysis.

large-scale data

Describes data in terms of its dimension or scope.

broad range of data

Focuses on the variety and diversity within the data.

comprehensive data

Underscores data integrity and completeness.

bulk data

Stresses the mass quantity of data.

wide array of data

Highlights the varied nature of the data available.

FAQs

How can I effectively use "swaths of data" in a sentence?

Employ "swaths of data" when you want to highlight the extensive amount of data requiring analysis or consideration. For example, "Researchers analyzed "swaths of data" to identify emerging trends."

What are some alternatives to "swaths of data"?

Depending on the nuance you want to convey, you might use alternatives like "large amounts of data", "vast quantities of data", or "extensive collections of data".

Is "swaths of data" suitable for all types of writing?

"Swaths of data" is appropriate for formal and informal contexts. Its impact depends on the writer's intent to convey scale and quantity. It's commonly used in news, tech, and academic writing.

What's the difference between "swaths of data" and "pieces of data"?

"Swaths of data" refers to a large quantity of data considered as a whole, whereas "pieces of data" focuses on individual elements within a dataset. The former implies scale, while the latter implies granularity.