Anecdote vs. Data Pronunciation: /ˈæn.ɪkˌdoʊt/ vs. /ˈdeɪ.tə, ˈdæt.ə/ (AN-ik-doht vs. DAY-tuh, DAT-uh) Part of Speech: Noun phrase
Definition: A distinction between two types of information:
- Anecdote is a personal story or isolated example, often subjective, that may illustrate a point but does not provide systematic evidence.
- Data refers to collected, objective, and often quantitative information that has been systematically gathered and analyzed for accuracy and reliability.
Overreliance on anecdote can be misleading, as one person’s experience may not represent broader trends, whereas data reflects patterns across larger samples.
Example: While an anecdote about feeling healthier after a new diet may be compelling, scientific recommendations are based on data from clinical studies involving many participants.