Expert: Leslie - 11/25/2003

Question
Hello Leslie-

My question is if the the word "data" should be treated as a plural at all times? I'm uncertain about writing statements like "the data described is formatted (...)" or "the data described are formatted (...)".

Also, if you can think of any rule of thumb to know when "data" or "datum" should be used, I would also appreciate it. The distinction between one and the other might be obvious, but still I thought of asking.

Thank you!
Fernando

Answer
Fernando,

Your question has been contemplated and debated by minds much greater than ours, and recently has been answered.

This entry is from the Merriam-Webster Dictionary:

Main Entry: da·ta  
Pronunciation: 'dA-t&, 'da- also 'dä-
Function: noun plural *** but singular or plural in construction *****
Usage: often attributive
Etymology: Latin, plural of datum
Date: 1646
1 : factual information (as measurements or statistics) used as a basis for reasoning, discussion, or calculation <the data is plentiful and easily available -- H. A. Gleason, Jr.> <comprehensive data on economic growth have been published -- N. H. Jacoby>
2 : information output by a sensing device or organ that includes both useful and irrelevant or redundant information and must be processed to be meaningful
3 : information in numerical form that can be digitally transmitted or processed

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usage

Data leads a life of its own quite independent of datum, of which it was originally the plural. It occurs in two constructions: as a plural noun (like earnings), taking a plural verb and plural modifiers (as these, many, a few) but not cardinal numbers, and serving as a referent for plural pronouns (as they, them); and as an abstract mass noun (like information), taking a singular verb and singular modifiers (as this, much, little), and being referred to by a singular pronoun (it). Both constructions are standard. The plural construction is more common in print, evidently because the house style of several publishers mandates it.

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Translated, what this definition says is that the word "data" is plural, BUT can also be singular thus "data are" and "data is" are both legitimate.  

Personally, I was relieved to learn that is can be used both ways. I had to do a "Find" search everytime I completed a document to be sure I put the correct verb number in place. Just remember that once you decide that data is either plural or singular, that you remain consistent.

Leslie