Data is or data are?

Posted on by upendranskye

It depends on whom you ask. In the past, people used to argue that since data is the plural form of the Latin datum, it should always be followed by a plural verb. Nowadays, there is a tendency, even among native speakers of English, to use both – some people use a singular verb, while others use a plural verb after ‘data’. It is possible to say, ‘The data is’ or ‘The data are’. Of the two, the singular verb is used much more frequently than the plural.

This was published in the Hindu on 24 January 2022.

Image Source

Banner: https://images.app.goo.gl/1qYEcJY3PuYkjY3Q8

One thought on “Data is or data are?”

Leave a comment

Published by upendranskye

Taught at the Central Institute of English and Foreign Languages/ English and Foreign Languages University, Hyderabad, between 1983 and 2020. In addition to teaching on the programmes run by the Institute/University, produced a number radio and television programmes for English language learners and teachers. After retirement, have been keeping myself busy playing tennis, re-reading the novels of my favourite author, PG Wodehouse, and listening to old Tamil, Hindi, and English songs. Have been writing the weekly Know Your English column in the Hindu since 1992.