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Subject:Data is/are From:geoff-h -at- MTL -dot- FERIC -dot- CA Date:Fri, 30 May 1997 13:01:27 -0500
John Posada asked about <<Real-time data is/are displayed>>
John, pick whichever you prefer. Strictly speaking, "data"
is (are? <gdr>) plural, since "datum" is the singular. So
if you're a purist, use "are". However, and this is a
biggie, "data" is increasingly used as verbal shorthand for
"this (one) dataset or collection of data"; the technical
term for this form of shorthand is "ellipsis" = the
omission of something your readers can reliably be assumed
to understand. That explanation justifies the singular use.
So neither is wrong, though the plural meaning is "purer"
than the singular meaning, which is more common.
--Geoff Hart @8^{)} geoff-h -at- mtl -dot- feric -dot- ca
Disclaimer: Speaking for myself, not FERIC.
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