is ( data ) singular or plural or both?

Answer 1

Technically "datum" is the singular and "data" is plural. The words are Latin. However in common usage "data" is often used for both.

Answer 2

From m-w.com:

data
5 entries found for data.
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datadatumdata bankdata processingdata structure

Main Entry: da·ta
Pronunciation: 'dA-t&, 'da- also 'dä-
Function: noun plural but singular or plural in construction
Usage: often attributive
Etymology: Latin, plural of datum
1 : factual information (as measurements or statistics) used as a basis for reasoning, discussion, or calculation
2 : information output by a sensing device or organ that includes both useful and irrelevant or redundant information and must be processed to be meaningful
3 : information in numerical form that can be digitally transmitted or processed
usage Data leads a life of its own quite independent of datum, of which it was originally the plural. It occurs in two constructions: as a plural noun (like earnings), taking a plural verb and plural modifiers (as these, many, a few) but not cardinal numbers, and serving as a referent for plural pronouns (as they, them); and as an abstract mass noun (like information), taking a singular verb and singular modifiers (as this, much, little), and being referred to by a singular pronoun (it). Both constructions are standard. The plural construction is more common in print, evidently because the house style of several publishers mandates it.

Answer 3

data is the plural of datum (singular) but most people seem familiar only with the plural form so its kind of accepted to use data as both singular and plural.

Answer 4

Data is plural, datum is the singular (but yes, everyones uses data for both)

Answer 5

Data is the plural of datum. A datum is a statement accepted at face value (a "given"). A large class of practically important statements are measurements or observations of a variable.

Answer 6

It is both, singular and plural.

Answer 7

Both singular and plural........did you know that 50% of english words are actually latin words? Interesting trivia..........

Answer 8

Data is all the same for the three above questions.

Answer 9

Both. 100% positive it is both.

Answer 10

both