> The word data can be either singular or plural depending on meaning and context. In general usage, data is treated as singular when used as a mass noun to mean “information” and as plural when used to mean “individual facts.” In scientific and academic writing, data is almost always used as a plural noun. In digital technology, data is usually treated as a singular mass noun to mean “digitally stored information.”

While it’s used interchangeably a lot, it’s also based on whether you have a scientific or CS background. My hunch is that the scientific plural usage will eventually largely die out except in very specific situations after a few generations given that software is eating the world.

[1] https://www.thesaurus.com/e/grammar/data-is-or-data-are/

Huh, didn’t know about that line. I do tend to refer to scientific data plurally, where each datum is meaningless, and technical data singularly.

> Is this one of those generational things like "on accident" vs. "by accident"

"On accident": Abomination! Kill it with fire, now! </OldFartRant>