Data - singular or plural?

[Shawn]

Even though the word "data" is technically plural I always write it as singular out of habit. Anyone else do this?

Example:

There is not enough data.
vs.
There are not enough data.

Which would you say?

 

[bluewall21]

Data seems to be a singular "container" for a plural set of information.

 

[dighn]

me too because data is not countable

 

[Goosemaster]

your database are belong to us?


*recomputes*

 

[zanieladie]

Originally posted by: Shawn
Even though the word "data" is technically plural I always write it as singular out of habit. Anyone else do this?

Example:

There is not enough data.
vs.
There are not enough data.

Which would you say?

You know...I think the first sounds better; however, the second one is correct. When I working on my undergraduate degree, the use of "data" as plural was stressed. Made it easier in grad school because I was one of the few who didn't screw it up on my independent research. 🙂

 

[amol]

"Data" is a plural word. The singular form is "datum"


That's the one thing my AP Statistics teacher drilled into our heads. We had to do projects and he'd mark us down if we put "The data is"

 

[MartyMcFly3]

Proper Noun.

Example:
Data: The purpose of this gathering eludes me, Sir. My thoughts are not for Tasha, but for myself. I am thinking of how empty it will be without her. Have I missed the point?
Picard: No, Data, you got it.

 

[imported_LoKe]

Both. It's a singular word, but it implies something plural. So hard to explain.

 

[notfred]

data is plural, datum is singular.

 

[Goosemaster]

a set of data.

a set of presented pieces of information.


There are not enough pieces of information, there are not enough data

 

[habib89]

Originally posted by: Amol
"Data" is a plural word. The singular form is "datum"


That's the one thing my AP Statistics teacher drilled into our heads. We had to do projects and he'd mark us down if we put "The data is"

winner

 

[GeekDrew]

Originally posted by: Amol
"Data" is a plural word. The singular form is "datum"


That's the one thing my AP Statistics teacher drilled into our heads. We had to do projects and he'd mark us down if we put "The data is"

I certainly hope that it becomes commonly accepted that data is misused as a singular.

It may be plural, but whoever came up with that needs to have a bunch of data shoved up his or her respective arse.

 

[McGyver]

datum sing, data plural

 

[HomeBrewerDude]

Originally posted by: notfred
data is plural, datum is singular.