Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.1 6/24/83; site cbscc.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!mgnetp!ihnp4!cbosgd!cbscc!rsg From: rsg@cbscc.UUCP (Bob Garmise) Newsgroups: net.flame Subject: Re: Grammer Quiz (Try it if you dare!) Message-ID: <3068@cbscc.UUCP> Date: Fri, 15-Jun-84 08:03:26 EDT Article-I.D.: cbscc.3068 Posted: Fri Jun 15 08:03:26 1984 Date-Received: Fri, 22-Jun-84 03:02:54 EDT References: <428@bunker.UUCP> Organization: AT&T Bell Laboratories, Columbus Lines: 13 Several singular nouns such as "committee" and "team" and "data" can be considered "collective singular" nouns. For example, to most Computer Scientists, to say: "The data is clear..." sounds just fine, but to say: "The data are clear..." sounds wrong. Since "data" is a collective singular noun, the first example is just as grammatically correct as the second one. Where this gets messy is with words that act as collective singulars for one profession, and not for other professions. Again, "data" is a good example. To English majors the second example sounds better. This is how you can always tell who did the final editing on articles about Computer Science. ...bob garmise...at&t bell labs, columbus...