: Should I write "what do the data show" or "what does the data show"? I wonder what the proper way of writing this question is: What do the data show? What does the data show?

@Speyer920

Posted in: #Grammar #TechnicalWriting

I wonder what the proper way of writing this question is:


What do the data show?
What does the data show?

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@Cugini967

@Cugini967

What does the data show?


I believe data is a collective noun (though I am not 100% sure on that). Collective nouns are plural only when the context is speaking of their individual parts, or members. Otherwise they are singular. Therefore, you would use does, which is the singular form of the verb do.

Now if you were to say:


What do the data records show?


Things would be different, because you are referring to the members of the data (records).

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