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To pile on the pedantry: "data" is one of those words that can be used in either a singular or plural construction. The OED has references going as far back as
by doty 17y ago
To pile on the pedantry: "data" is one of those words that can be used in either a singular or plural construction. The OED has references going as far back as this one, from 1807:
W. IRVING Salmag. xviii. 366 My grandfather..took a data from his own excellent heart.
(Further proof that English is not Latin.)
- dhimes 17y agoI agree that it's a tough game to standardize usage, especially when different "experts" don't agree (I would guess that you could find writing by other authors circa 1807 that used "data" as a plural). Currently, you find the use of "gender" confused with the use of "sex." Over time "gender" will probably come be used generally for male/female, and sex for reproductive references. But the first such uses were non-standard. Perhaps it's best to leave it at, "know your audience."