|
|
10-22-2007, 10:01 PM
|
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by timlan2057
Auuuggghhh!!!!!!
Daniel, you (and others) do this all the time and it is making me want to pull what little hair I have left out!
Now people for the last time ....
The SPEAKER implies!
The LISTENER infers!
:bubble
|
That reminds me... I was corrected by an Englishman the other day for saying, "The data is"... he said it is, "The data are" because data is plural. Is this true? It doesn't sound right to me...
|
10-22-2007, 10:02 PM
|
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by Sheltiedad
That reminds me... I was corrected by an Englishman the other day for saying, "The data is"... he said it is, "The data are" because data is plural. Is this true? It doesn't sound right to me...
|
It is indeed true... but it does not fit the ear well.:hypercoffee
|
10-22-2007, 10:02 PM
|
|
Registered Member
|
|
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Louisiana
Posts: 496
|
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by Sheltiedad
That reminds me... I was corrected by an Englishman the other day for saying, "The data is"... he said it is, "The data are" because data is plural. Is this true? It doesn't sound right to me...
|
Well, the Limey was technically correct.
"Datum" is singular.
But no English teacher would call you down for saying "The data is correct."
|
10-22-2007, 10:03 PM
|
|
ultra con (at least here)
|
|
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: The Woodlands, Texas
Posts: 1,962
|
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by Sheltiedad
That reminds me... I was corrected by an Englishman the other day for saying, "The data is"... he said it is, "The data are" because data is plural. Is this true? It doesn't sound right to me...
|
actually the singular of data is datum. But common usage would get your point across. Ok to use singular verb when referring to body of facts. Plural as a collective.
|
10-22-2007, 10:07 PM
|
Guest
|
|
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: H-Town, Texas
Posts: 18,009
|
|
The Geek show hijacks my thread.
|
10-22-2007, 10:07 PM
|
|
My usage is usually in the context of: the data "in the database", "on the hard drive", etc. or "The data is most likely intact". My "personal" definition of data is that it is a concept (and a concept is singular)... even though that is probably still incorrect. For me, data is a concept, meaning a collection of files, etc. intended to be used for a specific function.
|
10-22-2007, 10:09 PM
|
Guest
|
|
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: H-Town, Texas
Posts: 18,009
|
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by Encryptus
She is a good counselor and a wise man would heed her counsel.
|
Take your marbles .. get out of my sandbox.
|
10-22-2007, 10:10 PM
|
Registered Member
|
|
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: "New" Mexico
Posts: 977
|
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by Sheltiedad
My usage is usually in the context of: the data "in the database", "on the hard drive", etc. or "The data is most likely intact". My "personal" definition of data is that it is a concept (and a concept is singular)... even though that is probably still incorrect. For me, data is a concept, meaning a collection of files, etc. intended to be used for a specific function.
|
then you are using it correctly
|
10-22-2007, 10:10 PM
|
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by Daniel Alicea
Take your marbles .. get out of my sandbox.
|
So, what about the zebra, the donkey and the horse?:hypercoffee
|
10-22-2007, 10:11 PM
|
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by James Griffin
actually the singular of data is datum. But common usage would get your point across. Ok to use singular verb when referring to body of facts. Plural as a collective.
|
So datum would be one single bit on the hard drive? Because even a single file would be composed of multiple bits.
|
Posting Rules
|
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
HTML code is Off
|
|
|
| |
|