Re: the Data are (is)

["Taylor, Steve" <steve -dot- taylor -at- ALLEGIANCETELECOM -dot- COM>]

It's collective like group or team. So the data is whatever we made it up to
be. MS style of manual says it can be either plural or singular, and never
use datum. I agree on the datum bit, but I think data as a collective noun
sounds best...

So our data is correct, right?

IMHO.

------------------------------------------------------------
Steve Taylor
Consultant for Technical Directions, Inc.
On location at:
Allegiance Telecom, Inc.
Dallas, TX
(214) 853-7182
steve -dot- taylor -at- allegiancetelecom -dot- com
http://www.alegiancetele.com
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> -----Original Message-----
> From: Pilipovich, Kathleen [SMTP:Kathleen -dot- Pilipovich-1 -at- KMAIL -dot- KSC -dot- NASA -dot- GOV]
> Sent: Thursday, July 02, 1998 1:21 PM
> To:   TECHWR-L -at- LISTSERV -dot- OKSTATE -dot- EDU
> Subject:      Re: 2 questions
>
>         > Should it be "data were" or "data was"
> -------------
>         Data is considered a collective noun. A collective noun
>         is a word that is singular in form but represents a group
>         of persons, animals, or things such as board, committee,
>         and jury.
>
>         If the group acts as a unit, use a singular verb.
>         Example: The committee has agreed....
>
>         If the members of the group are thought of as acting
>         separately, use a plural verb.
>         Example: The committee are not in agreement on....
>
>         I got this info from the Gregg Reference Manual. It
>         doesn't specifically state data as a collective noun.
>         But, my last TW seminar from Solutions says that
>         it is.
>
>         So, I would say singular. I hope this helps!
>
> ~
>