A discussion about data

Sparky

Currently I have something getting to me, but I need a concrete answer to what is the correct way to talk about data.

Currently on a dissertation we are talking about data that we have analysed.
Within the context of

1st: friend’s recommendation for 64.5%.
2nd: ex-aequo: random person recommendation & fan pages, 11.5% each.

At present the sentence goes as follows

Those data are interesting for businesses

I feel that possibly the following sentences would be better, but I am unsure.

This data is interesting for businesses

The previous data is interesting for businesses

Any assistance at all as to the correct way is appreciated.

Donkey Oaty

I'd go with "This data is..." or "The data above is...".

Technically "data" is plural, but I agree with Guardian style-setter David Marsh:

It's like agenda, a Latin plural that is now almost universally used as a singular. Technically the singular is datum/agendum, but we feel it sounds increasingly hyper-correct, old-fashioned and pompous to say "the data are".

FlutterinBantam

This data... no question.

Permabear

This post has been deleted.

Enkidu

In most scientific fields one says "The data are...". Usually the journals themselves set this standard, so it's probably best to look at some journals in your field as donegalfella said. I know in physics data is always treated as a plural. In fact several papers in my field have the sentence "Taking a single datum for illustrative purposes....".

deman

Strictly speaking, the plural of data is "datum", but when has anyone ever used "datum"?

But through time, "data" seems to have become an uncountable noun and as with all uncountable nouns, it should be treated as being singular.

pickarooney

"These figures/statistics are..."

Donkey Oaty

pickarooney wrote: »

"These figures/statistics are..."

"This information is...."