Puzzling Plurals Part 2

Data

Don’t Say: The data shows our plans have failed.
Say Instead: The data show our plans have failed.
Here’s Why: “Data” and “datum” work just like “media” and “medium.” The “a” ending is plural; the “um” ending is singular. The only difference between the two examples maybe this: The use of “data” as a singular goes down a little easier with usage experts than the use of “media” as a singular. And that’s because facts often seem to travel in packs—so scientists and researchers typically think of data as a collective term. The bottom line is this: You’ll always be correct if you treat data as a plural. But when your meaning is focused more on the string of facts taken together as a group, using “data” with a singular verb won’t get you thrown in jail. It’s a judgment call. Here are addi¬tional correct examples of the plural sense of “data”:

The data are inconclusive, so we’ll need another study.

The data indicate that Ellen’s hypothesis was right.

The new data make the previous research obsolete.


Alumni

Don’t Say: Jim and Judy are both Michigan alumnis.
Say Instead: Jim and Judy are both Michigan alumni.

Here’s Why: Another term from Latin: This one has sev¬eral forms you should know. One male graduate is an “alum¬nus.” Two or more male graduates are “alumni,” pronounced with a long “i,” and never, ever, with an “s” at the end, as in the incorrect example. Two or more graduates of different sexes are also called “alumni,” as in our corrected example. One female graduate is called an “alumna,” and two female gradu¬ates are referred to as “alumnae,” spelled with an “ae” at the end, but rhyming with “knee.” An example of each are:

Geraldine is an alumna of Grinnell College.

Lucy and Beth are Sarah Lawrence alumnae.

Don is an alumnus of Lincoln High.

Joe and Fred are alumni but they don’t donate money to the school.

Stacy and John are both alumni, but she’s the only one going to the reunion.