Word: data (noun)

Associations

Data refers to information that is collected and used for analysis. It can be numbers, facts, or statistics that help us understand something better.

• Example 1: "The scientist gathered data from the experiment." This shows that data is used in scientific research to draw conclusions.
• Example 2: "The company analyzed customer data to improve sales." Here, data helps businesses make better decisions.
• Example 3: "He shared the data with his team during the meeting." This indicates that data is often used in teamwork and discussions.

A well-known synonym for data is "information." The main difference is that "data" usually refers to raw facts or figures, while "information" is processed or organized data that is meaningful and useful.

Substitution

Instead of "data," you can use:

• "information" (more general and processed)
• "statistics" (specific type of data often related to numbers)
• "facts" (specific pieces of data that are true)

Using these substitutes can change the meaning slightly. For example, "statistics" focuses on numerical data, while "information" can refer to any type of data.

Deconstruction

The word "data" comes from the Latin word "datum," which means "something given." It is the plural form of "datum," but in modern usage, "data" is often treated as a singular mass noun.

Inquiry

Think about these questions:

• Can you recall a time when you used data to make a decision? What kind of data was it?
• How do you think data influences our daily lives, like in social media or shopping?
• In what fields do you think data is most important, and why?