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Subject:Re: Data From:Michael LaTorra <mikel -at- ACCUGRAPH -dot- COM> Date:Thu, 23 Mar 1995 13:50:09 MST
Renee Cornelison asked:
> Is there a consensus regarding using a singular verb with the word Data?
There seems to be a de facto consensus within the computer industry that
"data" can be used in reference to a single piece or a whole collection,
and the singular verb is applied ("data is").
The singular "datum" is still used in scientific publications (I read it
in Science News and in Scientific American all the time). But my guess
is that "data" will soon become standard for both plural and singular usages.
Live long & prosper,
Mike LaTorra
Documentation Supervisor
Accugraph Inc.
mikel -at- accugraph -dot- com
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