5 entries found for data.
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datadatumdata bankdata processingdata structure
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
1 : factual information (as measurements or statistics) used as a basis for reasoning, discussion, or calculation
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
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.
Coin toss.
On a coin toss, the ease and flow of reading is usually the better usage. "data is" generally reads more easily than "data are" unless preceded by something specifically indicating a plural meaning such as "these data are" vs. "these data is".
No -- for all the machinations that M/W wants to put out, "data" is the plural of "datum." M/W has been undermining the english language for quite some time, including such linguistic abortions as "prioritize."
Just because a handful of idiots use something wrong conistently and pervesively that doesn't bestow propriety.
Either something has meaning or it doesn't. Please don't feed me that "English is an evolving language" claptrap. English is a series of defined syntax and usage. Words OTOH either mean something or they don't.
Just yesterday I saw, IN PRINT, the term "mediums." I suppose you support this as well?