4 ms·

the data are encrypted is correct - "data" is plural.

• smhg 11y ago
  Language is a convention. It can change. The convention seems to be the data is these days. Like agenda, which took the same road in the past.
• adrianN 11y ago
  Language Log has a post about this topic http://languagelog.ldc.upenn.edu/nll/?p=4396 http://languagelog.ldc.upenn.edu/nll/?p=4396 I quote: "My own view is that there are contexts where it’s okay to treat data as a plural, but none in which you can’t treat it as a singular—and that contrary to what many “reasonable” usage writers counsel, this isn't simply a matter of “style and personal preference.” " Other, shorter, humorous, posts about data: http://languagelog.ldc.upenn.edu/nll/?p=4401 http://languagelog.ldc.upenn.edu/nll/?p=4401 http://languagelog.ldc.upenn.edu/nll/?p=14970 http://languagelog.ldc.upenn.edu/nll/?p=14970 http://languagelog.ldc.upenn.edu/nll/?p=20635 http://languagelog.ldc.upenn.edu/nll/?p=20635