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In this case, yes. > This is why many argue that research on algorithms and data structures is "is" refers to "research", not "data structures"

• fhars 8y ago
  The sentence in question is > Data structures is how we store and access data. wich is arguably just a bad sentence.
  • coldtea 8y ago
    But not quite incorrect.
  • addicted 8y ago
    The grammar is still correct if the reference here is to data structures as a singular group which is actually what the sentence appears to do.
    • dahart 8y ago
      Whether it’s correct or not, it’s not a great sentence, and would benefit from a rewrite. Language is weird sometimes, so I’m not certain, but your argument seems circular and incorrect. Use of ‘is’ doesn’t cause ‘data structures’ to be singular a collective noun. The noun is plural, so the correct verb is ‘are’. The sentence would need to name the singular collective in order to use ‘is’. For example: “A set of data structures is how we store and access data.” That would be correct. Arguing that “Hard disks is how we store and access data” is correct and that “hard disks” is a singular collective noun, because the sentence used ‘is’, is not normally accepted grammar.