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Epi Wit & Wisdom Letters
Accepting Data
IS Instead of Data ARE Called Part of the “Dumbing Down” of America
[Editor’s note:
Recently we received email from a reader who urged us—“Please, please,
please, make data PLURAL!”
This topic has come up now
and then over the years. Generally, the Epi Monitor uses the plural
but occasionally we may permit ourselves to lapse into the singular.
We feel justified by this passage from our office dictionary:
“Data is the plural of the
seldom-used singular datum. Since its meaning is often collective,
referring to a group of facts as a unit, data is often used with a
singular verb in informal English...Formal English continues to regard
data as a plural rather than as a collective noun.”
We communicated these views
to our reader who furnished the thoughtful reply given below. What do
you think?
Dear Editor,
For those of us who studied
Latin, the answer is easy: “data” is the plural form of the word
“datum.” Even assorted dictionaries ack- nowledge that the word is
plural and takes a plural verb, though they often add usage comments
attesting to the use of singular verbs with the plural noun! (To me
that makes no sense). Strunk and White argue that “data” is like
“strata” “phenomena” and “media” (“criteria” also) and is best used
with a plural verb. However, they also acknowledge that the singular
verb is gaining acceptance. The argument that “data” is a collective
noun “when... “implied” as such just leaves the issue open to
interpretation and messy usage problems.”
I can see that “data” is
destined to go the way of “hopefully” in that usage, whether correct
or not, will finally dictate what is considered acceptable. It’s all
part of the “dumbing down” of America. I’m hardly a stickler on all
things, but grammar should not be determined by usage (since it’s
often wrong). Before we know it, that line of reasoning will lead to
the acceptability of “between you and I” or “laying out in the sun.”
Then what will you do? I feel as though I have to fight the battle
whenever I can.
Pam Phillips
Published May 1997
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