Re: collective nouns -- Re: Optimal programming advice

Kevin G. Rhoads wrote: 
<Pedant>

Kevin G. Rhoads wrote:

. . . Theories are nice, data is better. 

I'm in pedant mode:

'data are better' please 


"The band are eating their lunches."  collective plural (it is done individually)
"The band is playing a Sousa march." Singular collective (it is a group, a.k.a., collective, activity)

But here you are using "band" in two different ways; the first to indicate the band *members* (plural), the second to indicate the band *itself* (singular). Hence, the use of "are" and then "is".

Whereas "data" is, intrinsically, a plural word. If the singular version was intended, then "datum" should have been used instead. I can't think of any context where "data" should be treated as singular, but I'd be happy to hear specific claims of singularity.

cheers,

Rich
.

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