# These data are/The data is... a question of style **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 24, 2001, 4:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/these-data-are-the-data-is-a-question-of-style/77853 "2001-08-24T04:13:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Smeghead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f1d935/32.png) [@Smeghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smeghead)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2001, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/these-data-are-the-data-is-a-question-of-style/77853/21 "2001-08-24T23:16:16Z")
Woo! This is a thorn in my side. I have two jobs. In the mornings, I’m a microbiologist, and in the evenings, I’m a computer tech. So in the mornings, the singular of data is datum, while in the evenings, data is singular. Makes me cringe every time I use the damn word. ---
**Author:** ![Ringo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/779978/32.png) [@Ringo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ringo)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2001, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/these-data-are-the-data-is-a-question-of-style/77853/22 "2001-08-25T01:17:27Z")
I use the words in question every day and consistently treat data as a plural (except when I screw up). I think part of the misapplication comes from the fact that we rarely come upon a physical representation of a datum. That is, almost all physical representations of data (graphs, drill logs, etc.) are collections of many samples represented together in one presentation. This results in misusages such as saying, “The data is in the envelope” when it would be more accurate to say, “The seismic section is in the envelope.” And if “data” becomes singular, what is the plural…datasets? Or, as an English as a second language friend of mine oftens says, daters? > [@](#): > > The phrase “There is very little data…” is incorrect, but > common. “There are four data…” is ambiguous, but > correct. I have never seen this usage. As noted earlier, a datum is a single sample and that word pops up daily in my existence. What I’ve yet to see mentioned is the quite common usage “datums” that would likely be my colleagues’ solution to the conundrum **Dev Null** posted above. ---
**Author:** ![11811](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/1/9d8465/32.png) [@11811](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/11811)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2001, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/these-data-are-the-data-is-a-question-of-style/77853/23 "2001-08-25T01:51:01Z")
Medical journal editor chiming in here – we treat the word “data” as a plural. Data are, datum is. I have yet to see “datum” appear in a manuscript, but I have seen criterion (the singular of criteria). ---
**Author:** ![Dev\_Null](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/46a35a/32.png) [@Dev\_Null](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dev_Null)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2001, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/these-data-are-the-data-is-a-question-of-style/77853/24 "2001-08-25T02:21:02Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by beatle \* > \*\*I use the words in question every day and consistently treat data as a plural … > > And if “data” becomes singular, what is the plural…datasets? Or, as an English as a second language friend of mine oftens says, daters?\*\* I too use “data” on a day-to-day basis. And indeed, the singular version “data” serves as its own plural. It only confuses the same people who are confused by the inherent singular/plural nature of words like “deer”. Although I like the ring of “daters”. Think we can spread that meme? > [@](#): > > \*\*…What I’ve yet to see mentioned is the quite common usage “datums” that would likely be my colleagues’ solution to the conundrum **Dev Null** posted above. \*\* I have never noticed the word “datums” in scholarly publication outside of a reference to map coordinate systems. ---
**Author:** ![Ringo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/779978/32.png) [@Ringo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ringo)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2001, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/these-data-are-the-data-is-a-question-of-style/77853/25 "2001-08-25T02:27:18Z")
Hmmm…, we have many daters…, sounds a bit too much as if I’m the proprietor of a singles club. I can’t offhand recall reading it anywhere, but the usage of “datums” that I hear often, as related to your example, would be, “There are four datums…” [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/these-data-are-the-data-is-a-question-of-style/77853.md?page=1)