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From: tom@uwai.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.nlang
Subject: Re: The singular form of data
Message-ID: <148@uwai.UUCP>
Date: Tue, 6-Nov-84 08:37:46 EST
Article-I.D.: uwai.148
Posted: Tue Nov  6 08:37:46 1984
Date-Received: Thu, 8-Nov-84 19:00:23 EST
References: <550@rayssd.UUCP>
Distribution: net
Organization: U of Wisconsin CS Dept
Lines: 33

> Why do people insist on using "datum" even though it sounds terrible?  I
> know what the dictionaries and William Safire say, it's just that it doesn't
> "feel" right.  We don't have a plural form of hair, and nobody wants to
> invent a latinized form, yet to say "My hair is ..." is technically wrong.

The given analogy is very weak:  people didn't just make up 'datum' in 
order to latinize a pre-existing from.  Hair isn't Latin and doesn't 
deserve a Latin plural.

In any event, datum at this university seems to be a word limited to those
who did not learn American as their first tongue.  Yes, that's right: our
Australians *do* use datum, as do our Indians (< India).  

Does it sound terrible?  Watch:
	This datum is erroneous.        /* tried and true */
	This data  is erroneous.        /* referring to one point???? */
	These data are erroneous.      	/* the whole set */
	This data-point is erroneous.   /* kludgey */

Number two does not convey in a sufficiently clear manner the idea of
that we're talking about just one spurious point of information.  While 
admitedly biased in favour of the old school, I would opt for the
first solution.  

What does the rest of netland say about this and about Latin forms
in general?
-- 

Tom Christiansen
University of Wisconsin
Computer Science Systems Lab 
...!{allegra,heurikon,ihnp4,seismo,uwm-evax}!uwvax!tom
tom@wisc-crys.arpa