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Jesusengland Posted 17 years ago
Grammar
Data (Uncountable, Plural)
Hello.
data noun (used as a plural noun in technical English, when the singular is datum)
1 [Uncountable, plural.] facts or information, especially when examined and used to find out things or to make decisions: This data was collected from 69 countries. (missing image) the analysis / interpretation of the data (missing image) raw data (= that has not been analysed) (missing image) demographical / historical / personal data (missing image) (technical) These data show that most cancers are detected as a result of clinical follow-up.
2 [Uncountable] information that is stored by a computer: data retrieval (= ways of storing or finding information on a computer)
(Advanced Oxford Dictionary)
a) When in a dictionary is said (like in this case) data [Uncountable, plural.], is the word data Uncountable and Plural at the same time? Or is the word data sometimes Uncountable and others Plural?
b) If data is plural, why is the verb in singular and not in plural in this sentence?
1 [Uncountable, plural.]This data was collected from 69 countries.
Thanks.
data noun (used as a plural noun in technical English, when the singular is datum)
1 [Uncountable, plural.] facts or information, especially when examined and used to find out things or to make decisions: This data was collected from 69 countries. (missing image) the analysis / interpretation of the data (missing image) raw data (= that has not been analysed) (missing image) demographical / historical / personal data (missing image) (technical) These data show that most cancers are detected as a result of clinical follow-up.
2 [Uncountable] information that is stored by a computer: data retrieval (= ways of storing or finding information on a computer)
(Advanced Oxford Dictionary)
a) When in a dictionary is said (like in this case) data [Uncountable, plural.], is the word data Uncountable and Plural at the same time? Or is the word data sometimes Uncountable and others Plural?
b) If data is plural, why is the verb in singular and not in plural in this sentence?
1 [Uncountable, plural.]This data was collected from 69 countries.
Thanks.
Top answer
English grammar is very messy. Since there is no Language Academy or any similar authority, no one has the authority to determine correct usage. Datum (singular) and data (plural) are Latin words.
- English grammar is very messy.
- Since there is no Language Academy or any similar authority, no one has the authority to determine correct usage.
- Datum (singular) and data (plural) are Latin words.
- So many people use the plural word with a singular verb so often that it is pointless to argue against uch usage.
- That's why lexicographers have given up and accept data with a singular verb quite often.
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1 Answers
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English grammar is very messy. Since there is no Language Academy or any similar authority, no one has the authority to determine correct usage. Datum (singular) and data (plural) are Latin words. So many people use the plural word with a singular verb so often that it is pointless to argue against uch usage. That's why lexicographers have given up and accept data with a singu
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