Our data suggest OR our data suggests

English translation: suggest

08:21 Apr 20, 2016
English language (monolingual) [PRO]
Science - Biology (-tech,-chem,micro-) / Scientific Report for publication
English term or phrase: Our data suggest OR our data suggests
Should data be treated as a 3person singular noun
or
as a plural noun? e.g. data suggest or data are

The complete sentence: Our data suggest/suggests that increased levels of FFAs might be a pre-disposing
factor promoting inflammation.

The report is to be read by professors before getting published.
alfredweis
Germany
Local time: 10:21
Selected answer:suggest
Explanation:
data is/are plural...

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 27 mins (2016-04-20 08:49:12 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

"data is" is often heard in daily conversation, but generally "data are" should be used when writing, particularly in scientific papers.
Selected response from:

Jonathan MacKerron
Grading comment
1 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



SUMMARY OF ALL EXPLANATIONS PROVIDED
3 +10both possible
Cilian O'Tuama
2 +8suggest
Jonathan MacKerron
3 +3suggests
Ramey Rieger (X)


Discussion entries: 28





  

Answers


3 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 2/5Answerer confidence 2/5 peer agreement (net): +8
suggest


Explanation:
data is/are plural...

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 27 mins (2016-04-20 08:49:12 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

"data is" is often heard in daily conversation, but generally "data are" should be used when writing, particularly in scientific papers.

Jonathan MacKerron
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 1

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Helen Genevier: In medical publications data are plural
38 mins
  -> thx

agree  Neil Ashby: Both are used but this is correct! Data, the plural of datum. / I used the singular until I went to university, in scientific writing classes we were taught to use plurals (in general)
1 hr
  -> thx, could also be a generational thing, with the singular now gaining the upper hand

agree  Yvonne Gallagher
1 hr

agree  Sheri P: since this is a "scientific report for publication"
3 hrs

agree  Kevin Clayton, PhD
4 hrs

agree  Helena Chavarria
4 hrs

agree  Tina Vonhof (X)
6 hrs

agree  acetran
6 days
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32 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +10
both possible


Explanation:
Here's what Merriam-Webster says:

da•ta
noun, plural in form but singular or plural in construction
\ˈdā-tə,ˈda-, also ˈdä-\
1
: factual information (such as measurements or statistics) used as a basis for reasoning, discussion, or calculation
<the data is plentiful and easily available — H. A. Gleason, Jr.>
<comprehensive data on economic growth have been published — N. H. Jacoby>

Usage Discussion of DATA
Data leads a life of its own quite independent of datum, of which it was originally the plural. It occurs in two constructions: such as a plural noun (like earnings), taking a plural verb and plural modifiers (such as these,many, and a few) but not cardinal numbers, and serving as a referent for plural pronouns (such as they andthem); and as an abstract mass noun (like information), taking a singular verb and singular modifiers (such asthis, much, and little), and being referred to by a singular pronoun (it). Both constructions are standard. The plural construction is more common in print, evidently because the house style of several publishers mandates it.

Origin of DATA
Latin, plural of datum


Cilian O'Tuama
Germany
Local time: 10:21
Works in field
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 8

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Chris Ellison: I agree. It depends on whether you are talking about your data set as a whole or individual data.
10 mins

agree  Yasutomo Kanazawa
11 mins

agree  Ramey Rieger (X): The best solution
19 mins

agree  B D Finch
32 mins

neutral  Neil Ashby: Both are used but "data are" is correct! Data, the plural of datum as you said yourself. Given the context of a medical paper I'd always go with the plural form.
1 hr

agree  Yvonne Gallagher: I think plural is better in this context
1 hr

agree  Charles Davis
2 hrs

neutral  philgoddard: "Data suggest" may be grammatically correct, but it sounds pedantic.//Of course not. Criteria would be wrong. Data is more of a grey area, but it's much more commonly used as a singular.
3 hrs

agree  Polangmar
9 hrs

agree  Jörgen Slet
9 hrs

agree  Björn Vrooman: Second Chris E's statement here. Else, see discussion.
22 hrs

agree  Sheila Wilson: It's wrong is to say that either form is wrong. I was brought up using it the same way as information, but I accept either (or as per the style guide being used) when revising.
1 day 18 mins
  -> exactamente - my thinking too
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41 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +3
our data suggest or our data suggests
suggests


Explanation:
Not intentionally to confuse you, but there are several references to back up the singular, particularly in US English.
Data is, similar to family, troop, group, class treated as a singular noun.
http://www.onlinegrammar.com.au/top-10-grammar-myths-data-is...
http://www.theguardian.com/news/datablog/2010/jul/16/data-pl...

Ramey Rieger (X)
Germany
Local time: 10:21
Native speaker of: English

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
neutral  Chris Ellison: My agendum would tend to agree with you - at least 50% of the time. ;o)
8 mins
  -> If we were speaking Latin, yes.

agree  philgoddard
3 hrs
  -> Wow! We are decidedly in the minority here, Phil.

agree  Sheila Wilson: My personal preference, too
1 day 11 mins
  -> family, information, data...

agree  acetran
6 days
  -> Now we can found a club!
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