data is/are

English translation: Both are correct

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)

English term or phrase:	data is/are
Selected answer:	Both are correct
Entered by:	IanW (X)

11:41 Jul 2, 2003

English language (monolingual) [Non-PRO]
Tech/Engineering - Computers (general)

English term or phrase: data is/are

I would have thought this question has been asked before, but I can\'t find it, so please forgive me if it has.

I\'ve always used the word \"data\" in the plural and presumed this was correct - \"data are\" is correct, \"data is\" is not correct (although very common).

However, recently I\'ve been getting the feeling that I\'m in the minority. So, my question is - am I right, am I being overly pedantic or is it a question of taste? I\'d be very interested in any opinions or comments.

Thanks - Ian

IanW (X) KudoZ activity Questions: 632 (none open) (1 closed without grading) Answers: 2731
Local time: 10:24

Both are correct

Explanation:
depending on context, IMO, and also according to Chambers 21st Century Dictionary, and I quote:
"When referring to collected information, especially in electronic form, DATA is increasingly used as a singular noun, as a unified concept is often intended. "The data is entered from the forms by a keyboarder". When the composite nature of the information is important, the plural is often used: "As more data accumulate, it may turn out that there are differences; The data were easily converted into numerical form". However, in these examples, the singular is also possible thus: "As more data accumulates...., The data was easily converted....". So I hope this helps.

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Note added at 2003-07-02 12:13:48 (GMT)
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If I can avoid it, I often do, by writing e.g. \"Data may be....\", so you need not pluralise the verb.

Selected response from:

David Moore (X)
Local time: 10:24

Grading comment

Thanks to everyone for your contributions - I'll give the points to David, as I thought his was the best explanation. Thanks, David!
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer

SUMMARY OF ALL EXPLANATIONS PROVIDED

5 +7

Both are correct

David Moore (X)

5 +5

are/is

Gayle Wallimann

3 +4

jerrie

5 +2

Marijke Singer

are/is

Сергей Лузан

4 +1

data is/are

Catherine Norton

3 +1

An example...

Matthew Fagan

Answers

3 mins confidence:

peer agreement (net): +4

is

Explanation:
I would definitely say 'data is collected'...whether it is grammatically correct or not does not come into it, for me.
This is the way I would say it!

jerrie
United Kingdom
Local time: 09:24
Native speaker of:

English

19 mins confidence:

peer agreement (net): +2

is

Explanation:
I would have put an agree to Jerrie's answer but there isn't enough space.

I found the Ask Oxford website very useful for this type of question:

http://www.askoxford.com/asktheexperts/faq/aboutgrammar/data...

Is 'data' singular or plural?
Strictly speaking, data is the plural of datum, and should be used with a plural verb (like facts). However, there has been a growing tendency to use it as an equivalent to the uncountable noun information, followed by a singular verb. This is now regarded as generally acceptable in American use, and in the context of information technology. The traditional usage is still preferable, at least in Britain, but it may soon become a lost cause.

Marijke Singer
Spain
Local time: 10:24
Works in field
Native speaker of:

English,

Spanish

28 mins confidence:

peer agreement (net): +5

are/is

Explanation:
Ian, you are correct, but so is everyone else that uses it as a singular noun. Webster's Dictionary says:

"Latin, pl. of datum ; see datum.]
Usage Note: The word data is the plural of Latin datum, "something given," but it is not always treated as a plural noun in English. The plural usage is still common, as this headline from the New York Times attests: "Data Are Elusive on the Homeless." Sometimes scientists think of data as plural, as in These data do not support the conclusions. But more often scientists and researchers think of data as a singular mass entity like information, and most people now follow this in general usage. Sixty percent of the Usage Panel accepts the use of data with a singular verb and pronoun in the sentence Once the data is in, we can begin to analyze it. A still larger number, 77 percent, accepts the sentence We have very little data on the efficacy of such programs, where the quantifier very little, which is not used with similar plural nouns such as facts and results, implies that data here is indeed singular."

I myself would use a singular verb with data, and it does sound strange to me with a plural verb, however, it is technically correct to use a plural verb.

Reference: http://www.yourdictionary.com/

Gayle Wallimann
Local time: 10:24
Works in field
Native speaker of:

English

29 mins confidence:

peer agreement (net): +7

Both are correct

David Moore (X)
Local time: 10:24
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 4

Grading comment

Thanks to everyone for your contributions - I'll give the points to David, as I thought his was the best explanation. Thanks, David!

1 hr confidence:

peer agreement (net): +1

An example...

Explanation:
I agree with David on this one, but wanted to put an example up. If you consider something like measurement of spectra, you can see why data needs to be both plural and singular. Although a spectrum is continuous, and therefore a single piece of data, when measured it is actually a set of frequency/intensity pairs. When you talk about a data point (which I guess corresponds to the antiquated datum), you would be referring to a single frequency/intensity pair within a spectrum. The data of a single spectrum would be used in the singular, and data from multiple spectra would be used in the plural.

E.g.

XPS spectroscopy data was analysed (indicating that a single spectrum was analysed).

XPS spectroscopy data from A et al and B et al were compared (where you have two spectra).

Matthew Fagan
Japan
Local time: 17:24
Works in field
Native speaker of:

English

2 hrs confidence:

are/is

Explanation:
1. facts, things certainly known - with "are", 2. information prepared & used in a computer program "is". Good luck, Ian Winick!
Re.: 8. Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary of Current English by A. S. Hornby ISBN 0 19 431101 5

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Note added at 2003-07-02 14:13:09 (GMT)
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data usually with sing verb
Re.: Collins German Dictionary, ISBN 0-00-470406-1

Сергей Лузан
Russian Federation
Local time: 11:24
Native speaker of:

Russian

6 hrs confidence:

peer agreement (net): +1

data is/are

Explanation:
"Datum" and "data" are hangovers from a time when all scientific and religious lore was written in Latin. What many people don't realize is that it is only within the last hundred years that Latin has ceased to be the major language of all instruction.
Consequently, those persons whose education is based on subjects which were most latinized adhere more closely to the latinized forms of words such as "datum" and "data".

However, language can't and won't be legislated. Common usage eventually prevails. Right now we are at a point where "data" as plural is in conflict with it as singular. Who knows which version will eventually prevail?

Personally, I use "data" as plural and, believe it or not, "datum" as the singular.

However I choose to look the other way when I see "data" used in the singular.

Catherine Norton
Local time: 01:24
Native speaker of:

English

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