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Subject:Re. Data on data From:Geoff Hart <geoff-h -at- MTL -dot- FERIC -dot- CA> Date:Thu, 31 Aug 1995 12:54:48 LCL
Deborah Wood asked about the singular/plural usage
of "data". Deborah, data is manifestly a plural
(the singular is "datum"), but despite this, it's
often used as a collective plural. (Terminology?)
Usage often overrules "strict grammar" it seems.
Thus, if you're talking about data in the sense of
"dataset", it's common to use the singular. "The
data was analyzed yesterday." If you want to
emphasize the individual components of the data,
then plural is better. "The data were highly
variable and thus difficult to analyze."
If you want to be grammatically pure, and thus be
less subjective in your choice between singular
and plural (consistency is always a good idea),
treat data as plural; then, if you're tempted to
use it in the singular form, refer to a "dataset"
or "collection of data" instead. A little wordier
most times, but certainly clear and consistent.
--Geoff Hart @8^{)}
geoff-h -at- mtl -dot- feric -dot- ca
Disclaimer: If I didn't commit it in print in one of
our reports, it don't represent FERIC's opinion.
