"data" vs "corpus"

Question

"data" vs "corpus"

The phrases 'data' and 'corpus' are related but have different meanings and usage. 'Data' refers to information or facts, while 'corpus' typically refers to a collection of written or spoken material for analysis. They are not interchangeable, as 'data' is more general and commonly used, while 'corpus' is more specific and used in academic or research contexts.

Last Updated: March 23, 2024

Use 'data' to refer to information, facts, or statistics. It is a general term that can be used in various contexts.

Examples:

The data shows a clear trend in consumer behavior.
Please provide the data from the survey.
The data set needs to be analyzed for patterns.

Alternatives:

information
facts
statistics
figures

Use 'corpus' when referring to a structured collection of texts or spoken language used for analysis, especially in linguistic or research contexts.

Examples:

The linguists analyzed a large corpus of English texts.
The research project required building a corpus of spoken language.
The corpus of Shakespeare's works is widely studied.

Alternatives:

collection of texts
body of language data
dataset

Answer 1

data

The word 'data' is correct and commonly used in English to refer to information or facts.

Answer 2

corpus

The term 'corpus' is correct but less commonly used in everyday language. It typically refers to a collection of written or spoken material for linguistic analysis or research.

"data" vs "corpus"

data

corpus

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