Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/18/84; site faron.UUCP Path: utzoo!linus!faron!wdr From: wdr@faron.UUCP (William D. Ricker) Newsgroups: net.nlang Subject: Re: "Data points" Message-ID: <330@faron.UUCP> Date: Mon, 19-Aug-85 14:31:51 EDT Article-I.D.: faron.330 Posted: Mon Aug 19 14:31:51 1985 Date-Received: Tue, 20-Aug-85 07:23:38 EDT References: <214@tekig4.UUCP> Reply-To: wdr@faron.UUCP (William D. Ricker) Organization: The MITRE Coporation, Bedford, MA Lines: 30 Summary: A Datum In article <214@tekig4.UUCP> irenas@tekig4.UUCP (Irena Sifrar) writes: >Every time I hear somebody say "a data point", something >doesn't sound right. I think that "a datum point" would >in most cases be more correct. > >I would like to hear your opinion on it. > >Irena Sifrar >tektronix!tekig4!irenas or tektronix!reed!irena Data (n.pl.) and Datum (n.) are nouns, not adjectives. The American Heritage Dictionary has a usage note under Data (n.pl.) indicating that 50% of the usage panel accepts treating 'data' as a singular, apparently as a collective noun (as in a gaggle of geese, or a pride of lions). Data and datum are not adjectives. Thus, it is either "a point of data," or "a datum," not "a data point" [sic]. indicating that 50% -- William Ricker wdr@faron.UUCP (UUCP) decvax!genrad!linus!faron!wdr (UUCP) {allegra,ihnp4,utzoo,philabs,uw-beaver}!linus!faron!wdr (UUCP) Opinions are my own and not necessarily anyone elses. No warranty, expressed or implied, is given about the veracity of any statements contained herein. Applicable law in your state may differ.