Answer: Is "data" singular or plural? (loan words from Latin)
Where the word 'data' is concerned - you pay your money and you make your choice; with a little help from our friends in The Sentinel.
Strictly speaking, 'data' is the plural form of the Latin 'datum' which means 'something (aka a fact) given'. 'Data', therefore, would mean 'several things (facts) given'.
The plural usage is still quite common, e.g.
"The data about Mayan/Aztec/Incan sacrifice are conflicting," Blair told his class.
"I'm afraid these data are not conclusive," Stoddard told Blair. "You'll need to find a few more facts to support your theory."
However, many researchers think of 'data' as a singular mass entity - a group noun, as it were - and group nouns are always regarded as singular.
"This data is not conclusive," Stoddard said. "You'll need to find a few more facts to support your theory."
Probably in part because 'datum' is hardly ever used except in extremely erudite, possibly obscure papers, most people now follow the 'data is singular' usage.
A sentence like 'We have very little data' is readily accepted; but we'd never say 'We have very little facts' - the adjective here, with the plural 'facts' would be 'few'. This means that 'data' is indeed being treated as a singular noun, even when the information involved consists of several items.
Frankly, if you use 'datum' you're being pedantic. Nowadays, 'data' (like sheep) is regarded as both singular and plural.
The Free Dictionary
Strictly speaking, 'data' is the plural form of the Latin 'datum' which means 'something (aka a fact) given'. 'Data', therefore, would mean 'several things (facts) given'.
The plural usage is still quite common, e.g.
"The data about Mayan/Aztec/Incan sacrifice are conflicting," Blair told his class.
"I'm afraid these data are not conclusive," Stoddard told Blair. "You'll need to find a few more facts to support your theory."
However, many researchers think of 'data' as a singular mass entity - a group noun, as it were - and group nouns are always regarded as singular.
"This data is not conclusive," Stoddard said. "You'll need to find a few more facts to support your theory."
Probably in part because 'datum' is hardly ever used except in extremely erudite, possibly obscure papers, most people now follow the 'data is singular' usage.
A sentence like 'We have very little data' is readily accepted; but we'd never say 'We have very little facts' - the adjective here, with the plural 'facts' would be 'few'. This means that 'data' is indeed being treated as a singular noun, even when the information involved consists of several items.
Frankly, if you use 'datum' you're being pedantic. Nowadays, 'data' (like sheep) is regarded as both singular and plural.
The Free Dictionary