Quick! Pedants! I need you: is/are

[WilfSell]

Am too tired to know today... Which of the following is correct?

'there is a considerable amount of data'

'there are a considerable amount of data'

That is, is it the 'amount' or the 'data' that matters?

I thank you.

There is.

Amount is the object, which is singular, so it's "is". I cannot remember for the life of me how you'd describe "of data"!

Yes. That's what I had written. But had a momentary panic while doing final proof...

is!

there is, I'd say

But data is plural for datum, so should be there are.

There is

I think.. DOH!

Oh that's it - the 'amount' is the object in that sentence which is why 'there is' is actually right (and sounds right).

is - it's ONE amount, therefore singular.

There IS a considerable AMOUNT of data.
There ARE considerable AMOUNTS of data.

Tsk! Late as usual..