Which is correct (or which would you use?)

The data IS incomplete.

 

I believe the first one is correct. At least that's what I remember my Statistics teacher told us. I'd still use the second one though.

 

I'm no grammar whore, but I think it would depend on the context. Not exactly sure, but can't you use data as singular or plural? Playing devils advocate mostly because I would use "data IS" and not "are".

 

More than a decade ago I wrote a magazine article and consistently treated "data" as plural. The editor changed "data are" to "data is." I e-mailed her and asked what was going on. She told me that I was being old-fashioned, and that "data is" has become the accepted way to write it.

So, times have changed.

 

Technically the word data is the plural form of datum.

Therefore "data are" is technically proper, but "data is" is more widely used and accepted.

 

Both are correct, but I would normally say data is.

 

The word "data" has now replaced the word "datum" as the accepted singular form.


Consider this sentence:
The body of data is useful.

The [subject* noun] is "body" and is singular. It describes all the data as a single unit.

In practical use, the words "body of" can be dropped from the sentence, yet still implied.

Technically, this is improper English and grammar-philes' heads spin around like in The Exorcist when they see it happen, but practical usage always wins out over technical rules in the end as languages evolve.

 

HA HA HA!

That's technically wrong because the word "incomplete" makes it apparent that the data must be considered singular in that sentence (The data [set] is incomplete). Someone tried to get too cute and show of their superior grammar knowledge . . . and failed.

 

No. Data is plural for datum. Data is would never be correct, but that won't stop me from using it.

 

How is "the data are incomplete" grammatically different from "the deer are hungry"?

 

"Data are" is gramatically correct, but, "data set is" works better. Depending on the context, so does, "the information is..."

 

Actually, I believe that sentence was correct. The adjective "incomplete" does not infer a plural or singular subject. It's like saying "the buildings are incomplete," or "the books are open."

 

affirmative.

http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/datum

and this took a whole thread to resolve? hehe... gotta love talkbass. that said, i have never used the word datum.

 

100% correct. The subject and verb are in agreement as both are in
the plural form.

"Data" is a noun also. This fact has nothing to do with the verb form.
The subject is "body" and it is singular. Consequently, you would
use the singular form of the verb: is. "Of data" is a prepositional
phrase which does not affect the verb.

Here, the subject "data" is plural; however, "is" is the singular form of the verb.
The subject and verb are not in agreement. While it is often spoken
this way, this sentence is incorrect.

The word "data" is plural; however it looks singular. That is why
it is often used incorrectly.
"Media" is another example of this.
Conversely, "news" is a singular word that looks plural.

 

"The buildings are incomplete." is correct because each building can be incomplete by itself.

"The books are open." is correct because each book can be open by itself.

"The data are incomplete." is incorrect because it is logically inconsistent for each piece of data to be incomplete by itself. It is only the set of data that is incomplete and the set of data must be singular.

 

The subject is being incorrectly used in the plural form.