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Subject:Re: IS or ARE From:"Tamminga, Ernie" <et -at- DSC -dot- COM> Date:Thu, 29 May 1997 13:02:24 -0700
I think the struggle over that one is just about over... "data" has
emerged as a collective noun. In the USA it sounds kind of archaic to
say "the data are collected..." (that would sound fine in Britain, where
collective nouns take the plural anyway...)
Much to my dismay, a parallel thing seems to be happening with
"criterion" and "criteria". Gratingly often in speech and in writing, I
see "the main criteria is...".
That one still makes me go "aarrgghh", and in fact I'd be loath to hire
a tech writer who used it that way.
But the distinction between datum/data feels to me, anyway, as belonging
to an earlier age.
My 3cts worth, adjusted for inflation.
--------
Ernie Tamminga
Director, InfoEngineering
Digital Sound Corporation
>-----Original Message-----
>From: John Posada [SMTP:jposada -at- NOTES -dot- CC -dot- BELLCORE -dot- COM]
>Sent: Thursday, May 29, 1997 12:52 PM
>To: TECHWR-L -at- LISTSERV -dot- OKSTATE -dot- EDU
>Subject: IS or ARE
>
>Guys...quick question.
>
>Is it:
>
>Real-time data "is" displayed... or Real-time data "are" displayed....
>
>I want to say "is", but data is a plural so should I use "are"?
>
>John Posada
>Bellcore
>jposada -at- notes -dot- cc -dot- bellcore -dot- com
>
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