Is “data” singular or plural? The Wall Street Journal wants it both ways.

Is “data” singular or plural? The Wall Street Journal wants it both ways.

If you are writing about data, you have a choice to make: singular or plural. Singular: The data is so persuasive that only one conclusion is possible. Plural: The data are so persuasive that only one conclusion is possible. Both are correct, depending on the audience Colloquially, most people speak about “data” as a singular…