“Data is” or “data are”: which should you use?

Below is a transcript of the video.

Which is correct:

The data is pointing to a recession.

or

The data are pointing to a recession.

Surprisingly, perhaps, the answer is both.

Some people will insist that it must be “the data are”. Others feel quite happy to say “the data is”.

So where does this controversy come from?

Well, ‘data’ comes from the Latin word ‘datum’. It’s the plural form of that word ‘datum’.

And because it’s plural in Latin, many pedants will tell you it should be plural in English too.

But if like most people you've never studied Latin, you probably sense data as a singular form when we use it in English.

Which is why for many of us, the “data is” sounds far more natural.

So what should you do?

Well, if you’re writing for a large organisation that works from a style guide, check that and see if it gives you any advice.

If that’s no help, think about your reader. Which one are they likely to prefer. Choose that option and stick to it.

For more writing advice, enrol in my online course, Writing With Confidence, available at the Doris and Bertie Writing School.

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