DATA: is it singular or plural?

[motherinferior]

HELLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLP

data is plural
datum in singular
I think

plural, singular is datum I think

I would say plural!

plural

plural

data is strictly speaking plural, but in common usage treated as singular, e.g. "the data comes from many sources" (singular) v. "the data come from many sources" (plural).

So I keep the original text saying 'the data come mainly from'?

Looks wrong. But then who am I to judge, eh.

Definitely plural.

Thank you, BK. I might try and re-edit it to avoid the D-word totally...

yeah, try "information"

You guys.

I edited science journals for six years and it was always treated as plural.

Definitely plural - but I agree with Bossykate that in common usage it is treated as singular.
Does that help? In any formal or scientific document I would say treat it as plural.

It is a formal-ish context but still has to be accessible to the more colloquial reader, so I think the best thing is to change it.

I've seen & reviewed dozens of research papers, including by fairly competent (in every other respect) authors where data is used repeatedly in the singular. I've also seen many publshed articles (in fairly respectable journals, newspapers, technical books, etc.) where it's used repeatedly in the singular.

I now give up, I really don't think it matters any more.

Nooo, plural. Scientists (well literate ones) always use it in the plural as yoyo says. "The data come mainly from" is right, and I would have corrected it instantly if one of my students had put comes. You arty lot, tsk

I know it should be plural. But I've changed it anyway. So NER.

Well then the catch all answer is to be consistent.....

ARGGHHHHHHH