I heard something on the radio where they said that the "data don't indicate" ....I was thinking it should be "data doesn't indicate" - then I started running round in my mind - - either or.....neither nor...

Is one more correct than the other? Would it matter whether the data was comprised of numbers vs information?

In either case - - generally speaking, which is more accurate?

The data doesn't indicate?
or
The data don't indicate???

To be strictly correct, 'data' is a Latin plural. However, almost everybody treats it as a non-count noun, just the same as 'information'. In fact, if you say, "The data don't..." it sounds strange.

I came across this recently in a standardised English language test, TOEIC. As far as this test is concerned, it seems, 'data' is now singular. (Which upset my students somewhat; they had learned the 'correct' rule, only to find out that native speakers don't follow it.)

In English, it's everyday usage that sets the rules.

Guess that's why they teach "everyday" language in school, instead of correct usage, huh?

"Don't" is plural: "they don't," "we don't."

"Doesn't" is singular: "He doesn't," "She doesn't."

"Data" is plural, "datum" is singular. Therefore, whether it sounds funny or not, it's correct to say, "The data don't indicate..."

Catty (who can never remember which is which)

"data" may be used with singular or plural verb according to online Miriam Webster coll.


"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." Google

[This message was edited by stanbee on 08-29-02 at 03:32 PM.]