Hi,
I just came aross this confussing word "data". See the following sentence:
Invoice data and payment data are stored in the database. However, these/this data have/has different formates.
Should I used these or this here? and should I use have or has. No idea
2006-12-28 02:34:49 · 24 answers · asked by Iwanttoknow 1 in Education & Reference ➔ Words & Wordplay
Data is the plural of "datum" but it is used today as either a singular or a plural. The word data is commonly used with a plural verb when "data" refers to individual facts, statistics or pieces of information. It is also correctly used with a singular verb when it means a mass of information and it becomes a collective noun (a bit, I suppose, like a flock of sheep!)
You should be OK as long as you stick to two plurals - these/have - or two singulars this/has.
The only place I've seen "datum" used recently is on nautical charts to indicate the lowest astronomical tide!
2006-12-28 04:31:17 · answer #1 · answered by Who Yah 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The Data
2006-12-28 10:36:18 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
In English grammar , the word data is often used as a mass noun, or a collective noun, therefore would use the singular verb . An example is : "This is all the data submitted to me."
In Latin grammar, data is the plural of datum, so the plural is used:
"These are the data submitted to me."
Since we use English grammar, then we should treat data as a collective noun or mass noun and we should therefore use the singular form.
2006-12-28 10:57:33 · answer #3 · answered by ? 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
what about :
Invoice data and payment data are both stored in the database. However both types of data are stored in different formats
2006-12-28 10:39:44 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Data is plural for datum. No one uses this correctly anymore. So by common usage either is an ok choice.
By the way, formates is spelled formats.
2006-12-28 10:38:05 · answer #5 · answered by ignoramus 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The word "data" is said to be the plural of datum. Therefore, the demonstrative adjective "this" would have to be in its plural form "these" if it were to precede the noun "data."
2006-12-28 11:20:28 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
these data because there are more than one set of data you are referring to. Example they have, not they has..they meaning data.
2006-12-28 10:40:15 · answer #7 · answered by james c 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
These data have different formates.
2006-12-28 10:36:16 · answer #8 · answered by Grapy 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
This data is correct. I heard it in a speech by Dr. Stephen Hawking yesterday. 'This data shows that...'
2006-12-28 10:38:32 · answer #9 · answered by amenokanyi 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
In common usage it is treated as a singular collective noun. It is more commonly used as a plural (of datum) in academic writing.
2006-12-28 10:40:26 · answer #10 · answered by Brian S 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋