'Is' or 'are' here with two conjunctions?

Question

Hello, do I say "Also used 'is'" or "Also used 'are'"
a custom dataviewer that displays different types of groundwater and models that monitor data live such as water flow, pressure, and loss detection.

My first guess is to use is, so:

Also used is a custom dataviewer that displays different types of groundwater and models that monitor data live such as water flow, pressure, and loss detection.

Is this right?

Thanks!

Mister Micawber · Accepted Answer

AnonymousIs this right?

An argument can be made for both singular and plural, but in your rather long sentence, I think 'are' is kinder to your reader—then he is prepared for at least two items.

SoSaysSunny · Answer

I agree with Mister Micawber but I don't understand your sentence.

AnonymousAlso used is a custom dataviewer that displays different types of groundwater and models that monitor data live such as water flow, pressure, and loss detection.

Your sentence, broken down into info nuggets:

Also used is a custom dataviewer
that displays
different types of groundwater
and
models
that monitor data live
such as water flow, pressure, and loss detection.

My Questions:

1) Is dataviewer a technical term? I'm not familiar with it.

The framework of your sentence is:
A custom dataviewer is also used (with lots of features).

2) Is the dataviewer also used or also available (to use)?

3) Is your word models a noun or a verb?

The dataviewer displays (types of groundwater and models of data).
or
The dataviewer displays (types of groundwater) and it also models (data).

DrNorman · Answer

You may be able to clarify the sentence by structuring it as follows:
Also used is a custom dataviewer that:
1.displays different types of groundwater, and
2. models that monitor data live such as water flow, pressure, and loss detection.
Dr Norman

CalifJim · Answer

DrNormanmodels that monitor data live

Are you proposing this as a noun phrase or a verb phrase? It's ambiguous. (Of course that's a problem with the original.)

models (noun) that/which monitor (verb) data live
models (verb) that/the monitor (modifying noun) data live

CJ

Anonymous · Answer

Here is the context:

Common GIS functions used by water supply boards handle support requests with query and search options by code, which was present in one of my examples (Thanks to CJ). Also used are a custom dataviewer that displays different types of groundwater and models that monitor data live such as water flow, pressure, and loss detection.

Is the sentence still incorrect? I think my reader will understand, but I would like to know if it is grammatically incorrect.

Anonymous · Answer

Also, to be clear, they are two separate functions. The live data modeling is not related to the dataviewer or in it. My reader will know this. Thanks

SoSaysSunny · Answer

AnonymousAlso, to be clear, they are two separate functions. The live data modeling is not related to the dataviewer or in it. My reader will know this. Thanks

So you're saying models is a noun, one of two types of things that are used: a dataviewer and models.

In that case you must use the verb are:

Also used are
a custom dataviewer that displays different types of groundwater
and
models that monitor data live such as water flow, pressure, and loss detection.

Back to my question #1: Are these tools used or are they available to be used?

AnonymousThe live data modeling

Does the project contain models or a modeling tool?

I ask because the second option would make the sentence much clearer:

Also used are
a custom dataviewer that displays different types of groundwater
and
a live data modeling tool for variables such as water flow, pressure, and loss detection.

or
a tool for modeling live data such as water flow, pressure, and loss detection.

This would make the two features "parallel", having the same form (a this and a that, or a this and some that).

Consider this example: In the room there were a woman and men. (men needs a or some or several, etc.)

Anonymous · Answer

Thank you for your help!! You provided a lot of insight.
Your first question: Used. They are used by water boards nationwide.
Modeling tools. I changed the sentence. Maybe this is more clearer:

and live data modeling of things such as water flow, pressure, and loss detection.

Thank you!!!

SoSaysSunny · Answer

Original post: ... and models that monitor data live such as water flow, pressure, and loss detection.

Anonymous... and live data modeling of things such as water flow, pressure, and loss detection.

That's much better.

Plus the new wording gives you the option to delete things such as:

... and live data modeling of ~~xxxx~~ water flow, pressure, and loss detection.

... because the list describes the types of data that are being modeled.

If the list actually needs to be open-ended:

... and live data modeling of water flow, pressure, loss detection, etc.

... and live data modeling of water flow, pressure, loss detection, and other ___. (key metrics, variables, parameters, ?)

Please post the final version of the complete sentence because I'm not sure how the first part fits with the rest:

Also used are a custom dataviewer (details) and live data modeling (details).

I'm not always against using the passive voice ... but that opening clause also used are just bugs me. Is there any way to make it active?

Water boards across the nation use ... Frequently used features include ... (anything else)

It's just that you make the reader carry that baggage all the way through the sentence -- and it's a long sentence -- to understand what's going on. Let them pick up a word, understand it, put it down, and move to the next word. This is the only way I can think of to explain how those three words (also used are) make me feel.

Anonymous · Answer

In one of my previous posts, I say something similar to 'Water boards use' right before 'Also used', which I think it makes sense and logically follows. I think it sounds worse when it is repeated again. To answer your first question, I want it to be open-ended because there are countless things that GIS is being used to monitor water supply variables.

Since you asked,

Water supply boards use the following common GIS functions: handling support requests with query and search options by code (which is present in one of my examples), having a custom dataviewer that displays different types of groundwater, and live data modeling of things such as water flow, pressure, and loss detection.

It was a tough challenge. I had a complex sentence, and a few people came up with their own ideas. I need to do better but thankfully, I got some very good help with the sentence.

'Is' or 'are' here with two conjunctions?

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