Whats the singular for data?

Question

These data are misleading ...Right.

This dactum is misleading????

Answer 1

The singular form, "datum," is used in mapping and surveying to indicate a fixed point from which to measure, a datum point. Oddly enough, the plural of this kind of "datum," in conversation at least, is "datums." Examples: "We need another measurement from this datum." "Did you already shoot in all these datums?"

Maintaining that "data" is always a plural word is a marker of education and social class, so keep your audience in mind when using it singularly.

Answer 2

The singular of 'data' is 'datum', but it's hardly ever used.

"I might be friends with him, but I'd never datum." - tennismom, May 16, 2010

jejeje - Austin67427, May 16, 2010

Tennismom, what about Brad Pill or George Clooney? Would you datum both? (used in plural) :) - Rikko, May 16, 2010

No conozco a Brad Pill. Pitt? Jorge Clooney? Only if my husband approves. - tennismom, May 16, 2010

Can't believe I typed Pill. Well, I think it's time for me to take my pitts now. :))) - Rikko, May 16, 2010

Memory pitts, probably. - tennismom, May 17, 2010

Answer 3

I'd like to be able to say "Well, maybe not in Massachusetts ..." but the fact is, as Marianne said. Anyone who has studied Latin, knows that the singular is "datum" and "data" is the plural. However, there aren't many people anymore that have studied Latin. As a result, most English speakers use "data" for both the singular and the plural.

Probably from using it as a countless noun...this page of data, this set of data, etc. - 0074b507, May 16, 2010

the singular is often avoided by using phrases such as "this piece of data..." - Izanoni1, May 16, 2010

Answer 4

So,data or datum or whatever the words is - I wanted to "datum "some women I asked my father to send me 500 "buckaroos" with that I bought myself some wheels a 1964 sky blue Pontiac Tempest with four on the ground. My friend Janice a Tex.Mex. where he got that name-it never was explain- If you heard the song by Johnny Cash, " a Boy named Sue-then you know not to ask questions. Our plan was to datun some women -the more the merrier- . Dog gone it, I felled in love with a Texan woman called Jenny - from Killen Texas and my friend Janice -he went for a woman called Beverly. So, that was that - we became a data for ever and ever. Or a datum? who knows?

Corrections please

Answer 5

So that would be:

This data is misleading

These data are misleading.

??

These data are....sounds awkward. This data is...(regardless of amount) These data points are.... - 0074b507, May 16, 2010

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Data.....used as "mass"noun - 0074b507, May 16, 2010

This datum is misleading - Austin67427, May 16, 2010

Since data is supposed to be the plural form, "these data" should really be the correct one. - Rikko, May 16, 2010

Based on current usage though, both sentences are considered correct. - Rikko, May 16, 2010

According to Strunk and White, "the data are" is the correct form. Qfreed says it sounds awkward to him, but it sounds right to me. "The data is" is gaining currency, but sounds odd to me. - MacFadden, May 26, 2010

"This data is" is fairly common but incorrect. "These data are" is right, despite popular butchering. - MacFadden, May 26, 2010

Answer 6

It's really datum but it sounds wierd (because datum is a Latin word) so we use it as plural and singular (which is incorrect )

It sounds weird because datum is a Latin word??? Do you mean Latin like the word "data?" - Izanoni1, May 16, 2010