# The word "data" **URL:** \ **Category:** Cecil's Columns/Staff Reports\ **Created:** [September 16, 2001, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-word-data/81973 "2001-09-16T15:22:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![HammHawk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/35a633/32.png) [@HammHawk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HammHawk)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2001, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-word-data/81973/1 "2001-09-16T15:22:02Z")
Just wanted to point out that you sometimes refer to “data” in the singular (e.g., “the data is lacking” in the Stupidest President column [http://www.straightdope.com/columns/010622.html](http://www.straightdope.com/columns/010622.html) ). Actually, it should be “data are lacking,” since “datum” is singular and “data” is plural. [Edited by bibliophage on 09-16-2001 at 01:30 PM] ---
**Author:** ![Andy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/aeb1de/32.png) [@Andy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Andy)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2001, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-word-data/81973/2 "2001-09-16T16:48:06Z")
From Merriam-Webster > [@](#): > > 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. Good enough for me, maybe not for you. ---
**Author:** ![Ringo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/779978/32.png) [@Ringo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ringo)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2001, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-word-data/81973/3 "2001-09-16T18:24:10Z")
The TM gnaw on the subject: [These data are/The data is… a question of style](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=83450) ---
**Author:** ![bibliophage](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bibliophage/32/7615_2.png) [@bibliophage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bibliophage)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2001, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-word-data/81973/4 "2001-09-16T18:31:34Z")
ATMB is for technical questions about this message board. Comments on Cecil’s columns go in, um, Comments on Cecil’s Columns. I’ll move it for you. Oh, and a link to the column is appreciated. I added one to your post. bibliophage moderator GQ ---
**Author:** ![kniz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/c37758/32.png) [@kniz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kniz)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2001, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-word-data/81973/5 "2001-09-16T18:36:22Z")
Boy! am I glad to see this thread. I hate “data are”, which is used so much in print. To me _data_ is a word like _sand_ in that the actual number of grains has no significance. You can have a little sand in your shoe, a sandbox full or all the beaches in Hawaii and it is still sand, except when it is just a grain. Data comes in columns, pages, CD’s and it is still just a bunch of data, except when it is a datum. Maybe it is the scientific community that is more endeared to each and every piece of “datum”, and therefore look at data as individual bits and pieces. To me “data” is just like a pile of sand, nothing real special about the individual grains. ---
**Author:** ![Beruang](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/77aa72/32.png) [@Beruang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beruang)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2001, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-word-data/81973/6 "2001-09-17T02:20:50Z")
Garner’s \A Dictionary of Modern American Usage\ calls “data” a “skunked term”: both singular and plural are correct, but whichever you use, someone is going to complain. ---
**Author:** ![JillGat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9fc29f/32.png) [@JillGat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JillGat)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2001, 5:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-word-data/81973/7 "2001-09-20T05:48:19Z")
The media are not reliable on this issue.