the data were received

USAGE SUMMARY

"the data were received" is a grammatically correct and commonly used phrase in written English.
It is typically used when talking about data that has been received or received by someone. For example: - The data were received on Friday and will be analyzed over the weekend. - The report cannot be completed until all the data have been received and verified. - She confirmed that the data were received and that there were no errors. - The data were received from multiple sources and had to be merged together for analysis. - The team rejoiced when they finally received the data they had been waiting for.

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

9 human-written examples

The data were received from the National Geophysical Data Center site: spidr.hgdc.noaa.gov.

Earth, Planets and Space

Therefore, the data were received from different spots due to the light addressing.

Nanoscale Research Letters

The data were received as co-registered image pairs in Single Look Complex format (CoSSC).

Carbon Balance and Management

The data were received from DLR as co-registered Single Look Complex (SLC) data in CoSSC format.

Carbon Balance and Management

The data were received on land by another ZigBee device and transmitted to a PC through a serial port.

Progress in Earth and Planetary Science

The data were received in geographic (lat/lon) projection with a spatial resolution of 1 arc sec (15 m x 31 m) for the X-band and 3 arc sec (46 m x 93 m) for the C-band, which we resampled with bilinear interpolation to UTM32 and 10 m x 10 m pixels.

Carbon Balance and Management

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

51 human-written examples

The data was received by Süddeutsche Zeitung, the German newspaper behind the Panama Papers, and the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists in Washington is releasing it to the public online.

The Guardian - Business

"An initial review of our records indicates the data was received, considered and rejected, because it was outside of the market price and could not be verified," said James Nicholson, a vice president at Platts.

The New York Times

The data was received from the KONECT graph data collection [24].

Journal of Big Data

In this way the data being received by the net is already preprocessed for coding efficiency.

SEP

Onavo is available for iPhone, and will compress the data being received by your phone.

BBC

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "the data were received" in scientific writing, be specific about the source and method of data reception to enhance clarity and credibility.

Common error

Avoid overuse of passive voice constructions like "the data were received" as they can sometimes obscure the actor performing the action. Consider using active voice (e.g., "we received the data") when appropriate to improve clarity and directness.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "the data were received" functions as a passive construction, indicating that the data is the recipient of an action. According to Ludwig, this phrase is grammatically correct and commonly used. The passive voice emphasizes the data itself rather than the agent performing the action.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

75%

News & Media

13%

Formal & Business

12%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "the data were received" is a grammatically correct and relatively common phrase, primarily used in formal and scientific contexts to indicate that data has been obtained. According to Ludwig, this phrase is acceptable for use in various writing scenarios. While it is valid, writers should consider using the active voice for improved clarity and directness where appropriate. The phrase's function, purpose, and register align with its prevalence in academic, scientific, and news-related domains.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

the information was obtained

Focuses on the act of obtaining information rather than the act of receiving data.

the findings were collected

Highlights the collection aspect of research results.

we obtained the data

Shifts the focus to the actor (we) who obtained the data.

the records were acquired

Emphasizes the process of acquiring records instead of receiving data.

the statistics came in

An informal way of saying the statistical data arrived.

the results have arrived

Focuses on the arrival of results.

data acquisition was completed

Highlights the completion of the acquisition process.

the information came to us

Focuses on the direction of the data flow.

we got the data

Uses a more casual tone for receiving data.

the telemetry was downlinked

Applies specifically to telemetry data and its transmission.

FAQs

What is the difference between "the data was received" and "the data were received"?

"The data was received" uses the singular verb "was", which is grammatically incorrect because "data" is a plural noun. The correct form is "the data were received", using the plural verb "were".

How can I use "the data were received" in a research paper?

In a research paper, you might write, "Following the experiment, the data were received via secure file transfer protocol and subsequently analyzed using statistical software." Be specific about the method and timing of data reception.

What are some formal alternatives to "the data were received"?

More formal alternatives include phrases like "the information was obtained", "the findings were collected", or "the records were acquired". These options maintain a professional tone while varying your phrasing.

Is it better to use active or passive voice when saying "the data were received"?

While "the data were received" (passive voice) is grammatically correct, using active voice such as "we received the data" can often make your writing more direct and engaging. Choose the voice that best suits the context and purpose of your writing.