empirical evidence

Meaning

This term refers to information acquired by means of observation or experimentation. In academic writing, it is used to describe data that can be verified and tested, rather than theories, personal opinions, or pure logic.

Examples

• The researcher presented strong empirical evidence to support her new hypothesis.

  The researcher presented strong empirical evidence to support her new hypothesis.

• Without empirical evidence, your argument is just a collection of personal opinions.

  Without empirical evidence, your argument is just a collection of personal opinions.

• We need to collect more empirical evidence before we can draw any definitive conclusions.

  We need to collect more empirical evidence before we can draw any definitive conclusions.

• The theory is elegant, but so far there is very little empirical evidence to back it up.

  The theory is elegant, but so far there is very little empirical evidence to back it up.

• Our study relies on solid empirical evidence gathered over a three-year period.

  Our study relies on solid empirical evidence gathered over a three-year period.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ We need to find an empirical evidence.

  ✓ We need to find empirical evidence.

  'Evidence' is an uncountable noun in English. You cannot use the indefinite article 'an' before 'empirical evidence'.

• ✗ The study was based on empirical experiences.

  ✓ The study was based on empirical evidence.

  In academic English, 'empirical evidence' or 'empirical data' are the standard collocations. 'Empirical experiences' is not used in this context.

Related Expressions

Practice

• To prove your thesis, you must back up your claims with ___ rather than just theoretical arguments.

  💡 Data gathered through observation or experiment.

  Show answer

  empirical evidence

• There is growing ___ that global temperatures are rising faster than previously estimated.

  💡 Verified facts and data, not just theory.

  Show answer

  empirical evidence