# Yes, I know data is a plural word. But it sounds wrong. **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [June 29, 2007, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yes-i-know-data-is-a-plural-word-but-it-sounds-wrong/409964 "2007-06-29T19:44:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2007, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yes-i-know-data-is-a-plural-word-but-it-sounds-wrong/409964/1 "2007-06-29T19:44:28Z")
Do I put “closure if June data are still acceptable” in my report. Or do I assume I’ll look like an idiot and go with the more familiar “closure if June data is still acceptable.” What would you do? ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Excellent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f19dbf/32.png) [@Mr.Excellent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Excellent)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2007, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yes-i-know-data-is-a-plural-word-but-it-sounds-wrong/409964/2 "2007-06-29T20:37:20Z")
[QUOTE=Leaffan] Do I put “closure if June data are still acceptable” in my report. Or do I assume I’ll look like an idiot and go with the more familiar “closure if June data is still acceptable.” What would you do? [/QUOTE] Go for the “are” - educated people should realize you’re being correct. But be ready to bust out a dictionary on the doubters. It’s better to be right than sound right. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2007, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yes-i-know-data-is-a-plural-word-but-it-sounds-wrong/409964/3 "2007-06-29T20:40:12Z")
[QUOTE=Mr. Excellent] Go for the “are” - educated people should realize you’re being correct. But be ready to bust out a dictionary on the doubters. It’s better to be right than sound right. [/QUOTE] [Be ready indeed](http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/data): > [@American Heritage Dictionary](#): > > Usage Note: The word data is the plural of Latin datum, “something given,” but it is not always treated as a plural noun in English. The plural usage is still common, as this headline from the New York Times attests: “Data Are Elusive on the Homeless.” Sometimes scientists think of data as plural, as in These data do not support the conclusions. But more often scientists and researchers think of data as a singular mass entity like information, and most people now follow this in general usage. Sixty percent of the Usage Panel accepts the use of data with a singular verb and pronoun in the sentence Once the data is in, we can begin to analyze it. A still larger number, 77 percent, accepts the sentence We have very little data on the efficacy of such programs, where the quantifier very little, which is not used with similar plural nouns such as facts and results, implies that data here is indeed singular. Be ready for the doubters to cavil about the decline of the English language when you bust out the dictionary to show them that “data” may be treated as a singular; just smile politely and tell them that if they want to speak Latin they’re free to do so, but in English data is more often singular than plural. Daniel ---
**Author:** ![askeptic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/eb9ed0/32.png) [@askeptic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/askeptic)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2007, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yes-i-know-data-is-a-plural-word-but-it-sounds-wrong/409964/4 "2007-06-29T20:40:19Z")
I’d go with “are”. Out of curiosity, is this for a TPS report? ---
**Author:** ![JustAnotherGeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/58f4c7/32.png) [@JustAnotherGeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JustAnotherGeek)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2007, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yes-i-know-data-is-a-plural-word-but-it-sounds-wrong/409964/5 "2007-06-29T20:44:57Z")
Dunno if this will fit, but it’s a lateral move I’ve used before: “…if the June data _set_ is…” This makes many things (the data) into one (the set), so you can use the singular. I imagine that that is why it is sounding wrong. I.e. you’re think of the sum of the data as being one thing - a set. ---
**Author:** ![Duke\_of\_Rat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ad7895/32.png) [@Duke\_of\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duke_of_Rat)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2007, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yes-i-know-data-is-a-plural-word-but-it-sounds-wrong/409964/6 "2007-06-29T21:26:04Z")
I always thought the plural of “data” was “anecdotes”. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![42fish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/4/b487fb/32.png) [@42fish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/42fish)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2007, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yes-i-know-data-is-a-plural-word-but-it-sounds-wrong/409964/7 "2007-06-29T21:51:38Z")
Evade the issue by not using data as the subject? “Closure depends on the acceptability of the June data.” ---
**Author:** ![Patty\_O\_Furniture](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/96bed5/32.png) [@Patty\_O\_Furniture](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Patty_O_Furniture)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2007, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yes-i-know-data-is-a-plural-word-but-it-sounds-wrong/409964/8 "2007-06-30T01:00:23Z")
Data is becoming an [accepted subject of singular pronouns](http://www.m-w.com/dictionary/data): > [@](#): > > 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 […] 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**. But I agree with others about avoiding the usage depending on the audience. ---
**Author:** ![denquixote](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9bd4f/32.png) [@denquixote](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/denquixote)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2007, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yes-i-know-data-is-a-plural-word-but-it-sounds-wrong/409964/9 "2007-06-30T01:00:37Z")
you could use the less traditional “datums.” ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2007, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yes-i-know-data-is-a-plural-word-but-it-sounds-wrong/409964/10 "2007-06-30T02:17:44Z")
[QUOTE=askeptic] I’d go with “are”. Out of curiosity, is this for a TPS report? [/QUOTE] No. What the fuck is a TPS report? ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2007, 2:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yes-i-know-data-is-a-plural-word-but-it-sounds-wrong/409964/11 "2007-06-30T02:23:45Z")
If people say “data are” instead of “data is” then the Civil War was fought in vain. No, wait, that was the United States not data. ---
**Author:** ![askeptic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/eb9ed0/32.png) [@askeptic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/askeptic)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2007, 3:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yes-i-know-data-is-a-plural-word-but-it-sounds-wrong/409964/12 "2007-06-30T03:38:38Z")
[QUOTE=Leaffan] No. What the fuck is a TPS report? [/QUOTE] A movie reference. Office Space. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2007, 3:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yes-i-know-data-is-a-plural-word-but-it-sounds-wrong/409964/13 "2007-06-30T03:49:56Z")
[QUOTE=askeptic] A movie reference. Office Space. [/QUOTE] Oh, well that clears it up. 😕 ---
**Author:** ![ArizonaTeach](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/45deac/32.png) [@ArizonaTeach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ArizonaTeach)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2007, 3:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yes-i-know-data-is-a-plural-word-but-it-sounds-wrong/409964/14 "2007-06-30T03:52:24Z")
yeaaaaaaaaaah. ---
**Author:** ![Napier](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ce73a5/32.png) [@Napier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Napier)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2007, 11:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yes-i-know-data-is-a-plural-word-but-it-sounds-wrong/409964/15 "2007-06-30T11:08:55Z")
I vote for “data are” but accept that “data is” can’t be deplored. ---
**Author:** ![ParentalAdvisory](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/53a042/32.png) [@ParentalAdvisory](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ParentalAdvisory)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2007, 11:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yes-i-know-data-is-a-plural-word-but-it-sounds-wrong/409964/16 "2007-06-30T11:23:25Z")
[QUOTE=Leaffan] Oh, well that clears it up. 😕 [/QUOTE] Maybe this will: > **[TPS report](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TPS_report)** > > A TPS report ("test procedure specification") is a document used by a quality assurance group or individual, particularly in software engineering, that describes the testing procedures and the testing process. The official definition and creation is provided by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) as follows: IEEE 829 – Test Procedure Specification > The Test Procedures are developed from both the Test Design and the Test Case Specification. The document describes how the te... > [@Wiki](#): > > A TPS report is a document used in software engineering, in particular by a Software Quality Assurance group or individual, that describes the testing procedures and the testing process. And the actual joke in _Office Space_… > **[TPS report](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TPS_report_%28Office_Space%29)** > > A TPS report ("test procedure specification") is a document used by a quality assurance group or individual, particularly in software engineering, that describes the testing procedures and the testing process. The official definition and creation is provided by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) as follows: IEEE 829 – Test Procedure Specification > The Test Procedures are developed from both the Test Design and the Test Case Specification. The document describes how the te... > [@Wiki](#): > > The main character is reminded several times by several different people that he had forgotten to put the new cover sheet on his TPS report, which is now standard practice according to a recent memo. The explanation that “we’re putting new cover sheets on all of our TPS reports now before they go out” is usually followed by “didn’t you get the memo?” I hate to be one of those people that suggest movies to people that may not want to watch it to begin with, but I command you to watch this movie if you have not yet done so. It is teh great office comedy of all time. It sheds a comedic light on layoffs, TPS reports, shitty bosses and all that fun stuff. ---
**Author:** ![merrily](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ac91a4/32.png) [@merrily](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/merrily)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2007, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yes-i-know-data-is-a-plural-word-but-it-sounds-wrong/409964/17 "2007-06-30T19:29:11Z")
[QUOTE=42fish] Evade the issue by not using data as the subject? “Closure depends on the acceptability of the June data.” [/QUOTE] This is what I always do, and I have to use the word a lot. But that plural thing sounds bad, so I avoid it like the plague. It should be a group noun, like flock, in my opinion. Results, information, entries, input, anything but ‘data are…’ ---
**Author:** ![Emilio\_Lizardo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/898d66/32.png) [@Emilio\_Lizardo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Emilio_Lizardo)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2007, 12:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yes-i-know-data-is-a-plural-word-but-it-sounds-wrong/409964/18 "2007-07-01T12:45:36Z")
[QUOTE=Leaffan] What the fuck is a TPS report? [/QUOTE] Sounds like somebody’s got a case of the Mondays. ---
**Author:** ![RedSwinglineOne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/a9adbd/32.png) [@RedSwinglineOne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RedSwinglineOne)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2007, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yes-i-know-data-is-a-plural-word-but-it-sounds-wrong/409964/19 "2007-07-02T15:13:27Z")
**Office Space** huh? Sounds interesting. I might have to check it out. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2007, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yes-i-know-data-is-a-plural-word-but-it-sounds-wrong/409964/20 "2007-07-02T16:41:20Z")
“Data” in English is generally singular outside of some scientists who labor under the misconception they are speaking Latin. Personally, I speak English, and those who insist on making it plural have an agenda. Oh, excuse me. An _agendum_. Because if “data” is plural, “agenda” is, too. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yes-i-know-data-is-a-plural-word-but-it-sounds-wrong/409964.md?page=2)