Re: Debian 5 -- "data" is plural.
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On 2014-05-20 12:03, Lisi Reisz wrote:
> (Sorry, Ken. resending correctly to list.)
>
> On Tuesday 20 May 2014 16:00:42 Ken Heard wrote:
>> Please note everybody that the word "data" is plural. The
>> beginning of the last line quoted above should consequently read
>> "all the scientific data *are* backed up." Other posts in this
>> thread make the same error. The singular of data is datum.
>
> This is of course, gramatically correct. But I would argue that,
> although in formal writing it should certainly be treated as a
> plural, in colloquial speech it no longer is. I would also argue
> that emails are colloquial speech not formal writing.
I would not consider my e-mails be colloquial speech.
> This does not apply in the same way to all of your "group". Where
> it is needful to have both a singular and a plural, as in
> bacterium/bacteria and criterion/criteria it would be perverse to
> make a plural by putting an s on the plural! (Though some people
> do.)
Some people however do use the word "medias". On the other hand does
anyone use the word datas? If not, it is logical to conclude that
they give word "data" a plural meaning. In that case, if it is the
subject of a sentence or clause it should take the plural form of the
verb.
> Language changes, whether one wishes it or not.
In most cases out of ignorance.
> We no longer speak the English of Shakespeare or the King James'
> Bible. I still sometimes catch myself using the present
> subjunctive in speech. I do not think that I am correct to do so.
> For this usage it is dead. Indeed, for all intents and purposes,
> the imperfect subjunctive is dead.
I use both the present and imperfect subjunctive all the time in
speech, and even in e-mails.
Regards, Ken
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