Is 'data point' one word or two?

It is most commonly written as two separate words ('data point'), though the closed compound 'datapoint' is also sometimes used, particularly in technical writing.

Can a 'data point' be non-numerical?

Yes. While often numerical, a data point can be any discrete unit of information, such as a coded category, a text response, or a binary (yes/no) value.

What is the plural of 'data point'?

The plural is 'data points'. 'Data' is already a plural noun (of datum), but in modern English, 'data' is often treated as a mass noun. In the phrase 'data point', 'data' functions attributively, so the plural is formed on 'point'.

What's the difference between a 'data point' and a 'datum'?

They are largely synonymous. 'Datum' is the traditional, formal singular of 'data' but is now rare. 'Data point' is the far more common term for a single item of data and emphasises its role as a discrete unit within a larger analytical framework.

data point

UK/ˈdeɪ.tə ˌpɔɪnt/US/ˈdæ.t̬ə ˌpɔɪnt/ (or /ˈdeɪ.t̬ə ˌpɔɪnt/)

Formal, Technical, Academic, Business

My Flashcards

Definition

Meaning

A single piece of information or measurement, often represented as a value or coordinate, used in analysis or to build a dataset.

A specific observation, fact, or statistic that contributes to a larger body of information; a discrete unit of data within a dataset, chart, or model.

Linguistics

Semantic Notes

A data point is inherently individual but derives its meaning and usefulness from its context within a larger collection (dataset). It is often quantitative but can also be qualitative (e.g., a coded interview response).

Dialectal Variation

British vs American Usage

Differences

No significant lexical or syntactic differences. Usage is identical across both varieties.

Connotations

Neutral technical term in both. No notable connotative differences.

Frequency

Equally common in technical, academic, and business contexts in both regions.

Vocabulary

Collocations

strong

single data pointisolated data pointoutlier data pointplot a data pointcollect a data pointmissing data point

medium

key data pointrelevant data pointindividual data pointspecific data pointdata point showsadd a data point

weak

important data pointinteresting data pointdata point analysisdata point value

Grammar

Valency Patterns

[Verb] + data point: collect/analyse/plot/ignore a data pointData point + [Prepositional Phrase]: a data point in a set/chart/surveyData point + [Verbal Phrase]: a data point indicating/suggesting/showing

Vocabulary

Synonyms

Strong

datapoint (as a closed compound)observationmeasurement

Neutral

observationmeasurementvaluedatum

Weak

factfigurestatisticpiece of data

Vocabulary

Antonyms

datasetaggregateoverall trendconclusiongeneralisation

Phrases

Idioms & Phrases

“a data point in time”
“connect the data points”

Usage

Context Usage

Business

A specific metric (e.g., daily sales, customer satisfaction score) used for performance tracking and decision-making.

Academic

A single result from an experiment, a response in a survey, or a coordinate on a graph used for analysis.

Everyday

Used metaphorically or in simplified contexts, e.g., 'That anecdote is just one data point; we need more evidence.'

Technical

A precise, often numerical, entry in a database, spreadsheet, or the plotted coordinate on a chart in fields like statistics, data science, and engineering.

Examples

By Part of Speech

verb

British English

The software allows you to data-point specific anomalies for review.

American English

We need to data-point each customer interaction in the log.

adjective

British English

The data-point analysis revealed a clustering pattern.

American English

Ensure the data-point accuracy is verified before modelling.

Examples

By CEFR Level

The graph has one red data point.

Each answer in the survey is a separate data point.

A single data point is not enough to prove a trend; you need to look at the whole dataset.

The outlier data point was excluded from the final regression analysis after rigorous validation.

Learning

Memory Aids

Mnemonic

Think of a single dot on a scatter plot. That dot is one DATA POINT—a lone fact in a sea of information.

Conceptual Metaphor

DATA POINTS ARE BUILDING BLOCKS (of a dataset/conclusion). DATA POINTS ARE ISLANDS (in a sea of information).

Watch out

Common Pitfalls

Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)

Avoid translating as 'точка данных' in a spatial/physical sense. The Russian equivalent is often 'единица данных', 'отдельное наблюдение', or 'значение'.

Common Mistakes

Using it as a mass noun (e.g., 'We have a lot of data point' – should be 'data points').
Confusing 'data point' (individual item) with 'dataset' (the entire collection).

Practice

Quiz

Fill in the gap

An isolated cannot reliably inform a major policy decision.

Multiple Choice

What is the best definition of a 'data point' in a statistical context?

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

: It is most commonly written as two separate words ('data point'), though the closed compound 'datapoint' is also sometimes used, particularly in technical writing.
: Yes. While often numerical, a data point can be any discrete unit of information, such as a coded category, a text response, or a binary (yes/no) value.
: The plural is 'data points'. 'Data' is already a plural noun (of datum), but in modern English, 'data' is often treated as a mass noun. In the phrase 'data point', 'data' functions attributively, so the plural is formed on 'point'.
: They are largely synonymous. 'Datum' is the traditional, formal singular of 'data' but is now rare. 'Data point' is the far more common term for a single item of data and emphasises its role as a discrete unit within a larger analytical framework.