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Subject:Re: Singular Data From:rmedinger -at- LUCENT -dot- COM Date:Mon, 2 Jun 1997 08:08:46 -0500
Dan Wise stated:
Colleagues,
Tweren't always so. When I started in the business 40 years ago data was
indeed a latin plural of datum. It always called for a plural verb. Then the
engineers got ahold of it. Within 10-15 years it was a bastardized group
singular. Today it has been legitimated as a group singular. As we say so
often, English is a dynamic language.
Today we tilt at the windmills of if and whether becoming synonyms and other
weighty matters.
Who know what tomorrow will bring?
Dan Wise
dewise -at- ix -dot- netcom -dot- com
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Along this save vein, has anyone heard the phrase "on accident"? My kids
are using it to replace "by accident", and it drives me completely nuts.
I have also heard some younger college grads using the same expression.
Is this a new, evolving phrase or what?
Just asking!
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Bob Medinger
Technical Service Bureau, Inc. Technical Documentation Specialists
8150 W. 111th St., Suite 5 Specializing in Electronic Publishing
Palos Hills, IL 60465 Utilizing Frame, Interleaf & Word
708-430-7300 708-430-7306 (FAX) E-mail: tsb -at- flash -dot- net
"Providing Technical Documentation from Concept to Completion."
Technical Writing Consultant to Lucent Technologies
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