New York Times style:
data is acceptable as a singular term for information: The data was persuasive. In its traditional sense, meaning a collection of facts and figures, the noun can still be plural: They tabulate the data, which arrive from bookstores nationwide. (In this sense, the singular is datum, a word both stilted and deservedly obscure.)
AP Style prefers using data as plural, but says it can be treated as a collective noun. Reuters style says singular.
This would be a lot simpler if American English treated collective nouns as plural, like British English.
The word "data" is plural for "datum," as PC said.
I know it gets used as a singular all the time, but that's not correct. It drives me batshit INSANE. But if you're writing for a non-technical, non-scientific audience, the plural will sound weird to them.
So -- depends on your readership.
Data is the plural of datum
in Latin.
We are not speaking Latin. All kinds of Latin plurals are singular in English. OK, agenda is the only one that comes immediately to mind, but there's one, anyway.
It's a science paper, which will be read by a mixed audience of scientists and laypersons.
Data is the plural of datum in Latin. We are not speaking Latin.
I don't think that reasoning will fly with the AMA Style Guide.
Like I said, depends on the audience.
It's a science paper, which will be read by a mixed audience of scientists and laypersons.
I'd make it plural, then. Even if it sounds weird to you.
Can I talk about my cray cray new boss? She told me, in the middle of a meeting about moving the PA3000s, that she's in the process of getting a divorce from her husband of 42 years. She doesn't eat; she eats one "food bar" (her phrase) during the day. We have sit-down meetings about things like toner, which I can totally handle looking in the closet to see if there is toner, you know? Even on day 2. She's a nice woman, but she needs to CALM DOWN.
We have sit-down meetings about things like toner, which I can totally handle looking in the closet to see if there is toner, you know?
OMG how can you be so calm and reasonable about toner?!?! What if you fucking ran out? Huh?! No printing, that's what! Then you'd be in a world of trouble. You better get your toner priorities straight, lady! You have to get on top of this toner issue immediately with actionable dates.
Allyson: plural is what I would recommend.
I guarantee that the people who think it should be plural and see it as not will be more enraged than people who think it should be singular.
