the data himself

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "the data himself" is not correct in standard written English.
The term "data" is a plural noun in Latin, and it should be referred to with plural pronouns like "they" or "them." Example: "The data themselves indicate a significant trend in the results."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

Stapel often designed studies with others, but then said he'd collect the data himself.

Science Magazine

Bob may have been a data supplier with no interest in using the data himself.

BMC Medical Research Methodology

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

This was contrary to the picture that McLaren had built up at the time of a July 26 federation hearing, when it continued to argue that it was only about a "rogue employee" keeping the data to himself.

The New York Times - Sports

Still, it will prompt some pollster soul-searching--as it already has for one of the masters of data himself.

Los Angeles Times

While the data privacy officer himself is on the list of persons exempted in the national security law, his office is still on the list of those whom the Prime Minister can put under surveillance.

The New York Times

As for whether he plans to publish the data collected on himself, he says he might play the games again, perhaps annually, "to get a more longitudinal view".

Science Magazine

On entering a store, the data collector introduced himself or herself (RH or AEM) and briefly explained the study to a clerk or manager in the store.

BMJ Open

The data he collected on himself has now been replicated by countless others.

TechCrunch

In the case of P16, he had connected his machine to the internet himself: the data that's collected from the machine of any alarms, or, anything, and pump speeds, and all that, kind of, stuff gets sent straight to [supplier] in the USA.

BMC Nephrology

In addition to the volunteers, the researcher himself collected the data from the field, particularly from the far flung sample UCs of Lahore.

Ecological Processes

The researcher had to familiarize himself with the data by listening to the tape recordings from the FGDs and interviews over again to ensure that the appropriate transcription and coding were done.

BMC Health Services Research

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When referring to data, ensure correct pronoun usage. Since "data" is plural (though often used as singular), use plural pronouns like "themselves" if referring back to the data.

Common error

Avoid using singular pronouns like "himself" or "herself" to refer to "data". The word "data" is technically plural, so use plural pronouns like "themselves". Consider rephrasing to avoid the issue altogether or using "the data itself".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "the data himself" functions as a noun phrase with an incorrect pronoun. Ludwig AI identifies this as grammatically incorrect. The phrase attempts to link data (typically inanimate) with a personal pronoun, which is inappropriate in standard English.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

50%

News & Media

50%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "the data himself" is grammatically incorrect and should be avoided in formal writing. Ludwig AI confirms this assessment. While it appears in some contexts, primarily science and news media, it's crucial to use correct pronoun references to maintain clarity and professionalism. Consider rephrasing to emphasize who collected or analyzed the data, or use "the data itself" when appropriate. Always ensure your language aligns with standard grammatical conventions to effectively communicate your intended meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

he collected the data himself

This focuses on the action of personal data collection by a male individual.

he personally gathered the data

Emphasizes the direct and personal involvement in the data gathering process.

he was the data collector

Highlights the role of a specific male as the one responsible for data collection.

he analyzed the data on his own

Focuses on the independent analysis of data by a male individual.

he managed the data himself

Highlights the direct involvement of a male individual in data management.

he kept the data private

Indicates that the individual is retaining data for himself, without sharing it.

he controlled access to the data

Focuses on the individual's control over who can access the data.

he validated the data on his own

Implies that the data validation was performed by a male individual.

he processed the data independently

Focuses on the independent action of data processing by a male individual.

he reviewed the data personally

Emphasizes the personal review of data by a male individual.

FAQs

Is it grammatically correct to say "the data himself"?

No, it is not grammatically correct. "Data" is generally treated as a plural noun, so it should not be referred to with singular pronouns like "himself". The correct phrasing would depend on the context, but options like "he collected the data himself" or "the data itself" are more appropriate.

What are some alternatives to saying "the data himself"?

Depending on the intended meaning, you could say "he analyzed the data himself", "he is the data collector", or rephrase to use "the data itself". The best choice depends on the specific context.

How can I correctly refer to data in a sentence?

Use plural pronouns (they, them, themselves) or consider using the singular form "datum" (though this is less common). Alternatively, rephrase to use "the data set" or "the data analysis".

What's the difference between saying "the data himself" and "he collected "the data" himself"?

"The data himself" is grammatically incorrect. "He collected "the data" himself" is correct, indicating that a male individual personally gathered the data.