Data - Singular or Plural?

Test Preparation SAT Preparation
1

<p>Does the SAT view the noun “data” as a singular mass noun or a plural count noun? The book I am using had a question where data as a plural count noun was used with no context clues as to which was being used. Grammar Girl ([Is</a> “Data” Singular or Plural? : Grammar Girl :: Quick and Dirty Tips](<a href=“http://grammar.quickanddirtytips.com/is-data-singular-or-plural.aspx]Is”>http://grammar.quickanddirtytips.com/is-data-singular-or-plural.aspx)) says that data is accepted as both in standard usage.</p>

<p>Help!</p>

2

<p>Data is plural, as is media. That’s what McGraw-Hill’s SAT book says.</p>

3

<p>Data is plural whereas datum is singular.</p>

4

<p>Just visualize the word in a plural context.</p>

<p>“There is much data to be found within these files.” Correct.
“I can find a data within these files.” Incorrect.</p>

<p>There you have it. Data is a plural noun.</p>

5

<p>It would be snarky of the SAT to test on this word. It data was certainly once plural, but now, not so much. Consider:</p>

<p>“My experiment seems to show that gravity decreases as you get closer to the planet, so I suspect that my data are flawed.” </p>

<p>No one says that anymore. As a physics teacher, I can tell you that other teachers debate this. My favorite explanation compares data to rice. Each grain of rice is singular, but together they make up an collection that is still singular! Would you say “rice are my favorite food”? </p>

<p>In any case, the SAT does not defeat you by testing on obscure or currently evolving usages. HOPEFULLY, this will not be an issue.</p>