Ok, I’m tired of the data/datum bullshit. Just LOOK at this definition from dictionary.com:
da·ta Audio Help /ˈdeɪtə, ˈdætə, ˈdɑtə/ Pronunciation Key – Show Spelled Pronunciation[dey-tuh, dat-uh, dah-tuh] Pronunciation Key – Show IPA Pronunciation
–noun
1. a pl. of datum.
2. (used with a plural verb) individual facts, statistics, or items of information: These data represent the results of our analyses. Data are entered by terminal for immediate processing by the computer.
3. (used with a singular verb) a body of facts; information: Additional data is available from the president of the firm.
A plural, that has conflicting numerical meanings and can be used with both plural and singular verbs!? Are you fucking kidding me?? You have data… data are. Nobody says datum, and if they do they are forcing it because it is retarded.
Moreover, the common phrase ‘points of data’ drives me crazy. I personally think it fits nicely, but it doesn’t follow any of the plural rules. You don’t say slices of pizzas, pieces of papers, or points of informations, and if you do, it’s because you mean something different and distinct from points of data – that the pieces/points/slices are coming from different sources. For example, if you had a bunch of slices from one pizza, they are certainly slices of pizza. But if you have slices from each of say 10 pizzas, slices of pizzas might be more appropriate (but still not very clear). Meanwhile, I have NEVER heard ‘points of data’ mean from many different data sources (datum! sources). ARRRRGGGHHH!
So, for the good of all, please remove datum from english and just use data for both singular and plural. You can have some data, it may have pieces or points of data, and everything can be happy again. Please, do it for the children(s).
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