Re: *Data* question

[Loren Castro <lfc -at- SOL -dot- CHINALAKE -dot- NAVY -dot- MIL>]

>>  Which phrase do y*all prefer? Are any grammatically incorrect?
>>
>>  1) This data helps the analyst.
>>  2) These data help the analyst.
>>  3) The data helps the analyst.
>>  4) The data help the analyst.
>>

> The last time this subject surfaced (has it been six
> months already???),

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Yes, it's been about six months since I posted the following:

        Common words commonly misused:

                Singular        Plural
                --------        ------
                criterion       criteria
                datum           data
                medium          media
                phenomenon      phenomena
        But
                cockalorum      cockalorums

==============================================================

> someone quoted a source (can't
> remember, getting old y'know) that said anyone who
> still used the plural verb with "data" was being
> presumptuous/pedantic . . . .

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And anyone who uses virgules in this manner ought not to be
so critical.  I still like 2) and 4).

lfc -at- sol -dot- chinalake -dot- navy -dot- mil