01 Apr 11
1 edit
Originally posted by FMFConsider it done.
Enough is enough. "The data are shown in Table 1.4.2." Ugly. Clumsy. Too beholden to Latin, which ain't English. It's high time English is allowed to evolve just a little bit and for 'data' to be treated like an uncountable noun.
Google counts for "Data are":
"About 44,300,000 results"
Google counts for "Data is":
"About 120,000,000 results"
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01 Apr 11
Originally posted by DrKFAnd how about the Brits, who say things like "It seems that Unilever have come up with a unique solution...".
My current contract brings me in to contact with lots of medical professionals, and they stick to the data-as-plural thing. Several months in, and it still jars when I read it. Maybe I should ask one whether he ever uses the word datum?
01 Apr 11
Originally posted by RevRSleekerHere in the UK, it is maths - and it's an Americanism that particularly jars with me... (Written, it's the suffix -ization.)
As nothing other than idle curiosity with the singular and plural, has anyone an idea as to why math(S) isn't so ?? It is a noun, is it not, but perhaps a mere foreshortening adopted by the U.S alone and nothing to do with plural...a question for the English expert maybe ?
02 Apr 11
1 edit
Originally posted by DrKFAs the addition of the superfluous S jars with me. (Much like adding a superfluous U to color.)
Here in the UK, it is math[b]s - and it's an Americanism that particularly jars with me... (Written, it's the suffix -ization.)[/b]
When you abbreviate, you break the rest of the word off, you don't go back in and add in the S for no reason, especially when talking about a singlular.
And for you neanderthals who think mathematics is plural, then what the heck is a mathematic?
Mathematics is a noun, mathematic is an adjective. It doesn't get any more clear than that. There's NO reason to add the S back on.
Edit: Or you know what? Even better, spell it math's, since the apostrophe represents letters that were taken out. If all you English-abusing Brits wrote it math's, I'd be happy. I'd still use math, though, because most people would assume you were using a possessive or misusing a plural if you wrote it that way.