Grammar Entry 591 / 1011 60-second read

Data is vs. Data are

Singular in common use, plural in science.

The comparisoni

✗ Wrong

The data are inconclusive on the blog.

✓ Correct

The data is inconclusive on the blog.

The ruleii

Everyday: DATA IS. Science: DATA ARE.

DATA is technically plural (singular: datum), but modern English widely treats it as a mass noun. Science journals still prefer ARE.

Memory aidiii

Remember it like this

Lab report? Are. Blog post? Is.

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