When I first look at “data is” or “data are,” the answer can seem surprisingly confusing. Both forms appear in everyday English, so you may wonder which one is actually correct.
You deserve a clear answer without complicated grammar rules or confusing terminology. I’ll show you how data is or data are works, when each form is appropriate, and how context can change your choice.
Whether you are writing an email, school assignment, report, or professional article, you can use these rules to write with confidence. By the end, you’ll know the simple difference and avoid this common grammar mistake.
Quick Answer
Both “data is” and “data are” are correct, depending on how you treat the noun data. Use data is when data means information or a body of information, especially in general and computing contexts. Use data are when data refers to individual facts, measurements, or observations, particularly in scientific and formal technical writing.
Quick Comparison Table
| Feature | Data is | Data are |
| Meaning | Information as a whole | Individual facts or measurements |
| Grammar role | Singular/noncount construction | Plural construction |
| Formality | Standard modern usage | Traditional formal/scientific usage |
| Common usage | Very common | Common in scientific writing |
| Regional usage | Common in American and British English | Common in both, especially technical contexts |
| Preferred context | Computing, business, general writing | Scientific, academic, research writing |
| Example | The data is available. | The data are accurate. |
The important point is that neither construction is automatically wrong. The choice depends on the intended grammatical treatment of data. Cambridge Dictionary explicitly lists data as a noun that can take either singular or plural verbs.
How Are These Words Pronounced?
The word data has more than one established pronunciation in English.
In British English, it is commonly pronounced with a long first vowel, while American English commonly uses both the “day” and “da” patterns. Cambridge gives British /ˈdeɪ.tə/ and American /ˈdeɪ.t̬ə/ and /ˈdæt̬.ə/.
The words is and are are pronounced differently because they are different forms of the verb be.
- data: commonly two syllables
- is: one syllable
- are: one syllable
The pronunciation of data does not determine whether you should use is or are. The grammatical meaning and style determine the choice.
Meaning and Usage
Meaning of Data
Data refers to facts, figures, measurements, observations, records, or information collected for examination, analysis, storage, or decision-making.
For example:
- The data is stored on a secure server.
- The data are based on laboratory measurements.
- We collected data from thousands of users.
Cambridge defines data as information, especially facts or numbers collected for examination and decision-making, as well as information stored electronically.
Meaning of “Data Is”
When data is treated as a mass or noncount noun, it behaves similarly to information.
For example:
The data is useful for making decisions.
Here, the writer is thinking about the data as one body of information rather than as separate individual facts.
This construction is especially common in general English and computing. Merriam-Webster notes that data is usually treated as singular in most writing and commonly takes a singular verb when it means a mass of information.
Meaning of “Data Are”
When data is treated as a plural noun, it refers to individual facts, observations, measurements, or pieces of information.
For example:
The data are consistent with the original hypothesis.
Here, the writer is emphasizing the individual results or observations contained within the data.
This usage remains particularly common in scientific and technical writing. Oxford notes that data is used as a plural noun in technical English when datum is the singular form.
Main Difference Between Data Is and Data Are
The main difference is how the writer conceptualizes the noun data.
| Construction | Grammatical treatment | Typical meaning | Example |
| Data is | Singular/noncount | Information as a whole | The data is reliable. |
| Data are | Plural | Individual facts or observations | The data are reliable. |
| This data | Singular | This body of information | This data is incomplete. |
| These data | Plural | These individual facts/results | These data are incomplete. |
| Much data | Noncount | A quantity of information | Much data is available. |
| Many data | Plural | Individual data points | Many data are available. |
Notice how the surrounding words can reveal the intended construction. This, much, and is point toward the singular/noncount interpretation, while these, many, and are point toward the plural interpretation.
Grammar Rule: Why Can Data Take Both Is and Are?
Historically, data is the plural form of Latin datum, meaning something given. The traditional grammatical pattern was therefore:
- datum = singular
- data = plural
Under that traditional system:
The datum is accurate.
The data are accurate.
However, English has increasingly adopted data as a noncount noun meaning information. Under this modern usage:
The data is accurate.
Both systems exist in standard English today. Merriam-Webster describes data as “plural in form but singular or plural in construction.”
The key is consistency. If you decide to treat data as plural in a sentence, use plural agreement throughout:
These data are important.
Avoid mixing the two patterns:
These data is important.
If you treat data as singular/noncount, use singular agreement:
This data is important.
Origin and Etymology
The word data comes from Latin and is historically the plural of datum, which means something given. Merriam-Webster traces the word data to Latin and records its first known English use in the seventeenth century.
In older scientific and scholarly traditions, writers often maintained the Latin distinction:
- datum = one fact or item
- data = multiple facts or items
Modern English, however, frequently treats data as a collective or mass noun. This change is especially visible in computing and everyday professional communication.
That historical development explains why both data is and data are remain established today.
Dictionary Comparison
Major dictionaries do not simply declare one form correct and the other incorrect.
| Dictionary | Treatment of Data |
| Oxford | Recognizes plural use, especially in technical English |
| Cambridge | Allows singular and plural verb agreement |
| Merriam-Webster | Describes data as singular or plural in construction |
| Collins | Recognizes both uncountable and plural uses |
Oxford lists data as an uncountable/plural noun and specifically notes plural use in technical English.
Cambridge labels data as a noun that can take singular or plural verbs and gives examples such as “The data was/were collected.”
Merriam-Webster says that data can function as either plural or singular depending on context, with plural usage remaining especially common in technical and formal writing.
Collins likewise describes data as both an uncountable noun and a plural noun. It notes that data is often treated as singular in modern English but continues to be plural in scientific and technical writing.
Are Both “Data Is” and “Data Are” Correct?
Yes.
Neither data is nor data are should automatically be labeled incorrect.
Use data is when you are treating data as a body of information:
The data is available online.
Use data are when you are treating data as separate observations or results:
The data are presented in Table 2.
Merriam-Webster gives essentially this distinction: data can be a noncount noun with singular agreement or a plural noun with plural agreement.
British vs American English
The difference is not strictly a British-versus-American issue. Both varieties use both constructions.
| Variety | Data is | Data are |
| American English | Very common | Common in science/formal writing |
| British English | Common | Common, especially in technical writing |
| Academic English | Accepted | Often preferred in scientific contexts |
| Computing | Very common | Less common |
| General business writing | Very common | Possible but more formal |
Cambridge notes that American English increasingly uses data as an uncountable noun with a singular verb.
Collins similarly reports variation in both British and American English, with technical and scientific contexts retaining more plural usage.
Therefore, calling data is “American” and data are “British” would be an oversimplification.
Which Form Is More Common?
In modern general writing, data is is extremely common.
This is particularly true when data means information in a broad sense:
The data is stored securely.
The data is available to users.
The data is not complete.
In scientific and academic contexts, data are remains strongly established:
The data are consistent with previous findings.
The data are presented in Figure 3.
These data are statistically significant.
Merriam-Webster states that data is treated as singular in most writing but retains plural treatment in technical, scientific, and some formal contexts.
When Should You Use Each Form?
Academic Writing
If you are writing a scientific research paper and referring to separate measurements, data are is a safe traditional choice.
The data are consistent with the proposed model.
However, always follow your institution, journal, or publication’s style guide if it specifies a preferred usage.
Professional Writing
In business reports, emails, presentations, and general workplace writing, data is is natural when data means information as a whole.
The data is available in the shared report.
Our customer data is protected.
Casual Writing
For ordinary communication, data is often sounds more natural:
The data is already in the spreadsheet.
The data is not loading correctly.
Journalism
Journalistic usage varies, but data is is common when data is treated as a mass noun:
The data is not enough to support the claim.
A publication may instead prefer data are according to its house style.
Common Mistakes
Mistake 1: Assuming Data Is Always Plural
Incorrect assumption:
Data must always take “are.”
Better understanding:
The data is stored on the server.
Data can function as a singular noncount noun in modern English.
Mistake 2: Mixing This and Are
Incorrect:
This data are reliable.
Correct:
This data is reliable.
Or:
These data are reliable.
The demonstrative and verb should match the grammatical treatment.
Mistake 3: Mixing These and Is
Incorrect:
These data is convincing.
Correct:
These data are convincing.
If data is plural, use plural agreement.
Mistake 4: Changing Forms Within the Same Construction
Avoid switching between singular and plural treatment without a reason.
Instead of:
These data is important, and it show a clear trend.
Use:
These data are important, and they show a clear trend.
Or:
This data is important, and it shows a clear trend.
Real-Life Examples
Technology
The data is encrypted before transmission.
Here, data means stored digital information.
Scientific Research
The data are consistent with the experimental hypothesis.
Here, the writer is treating the results as individual observations.
Business
Customer data is stored in a secure database.
The noun refers to information collectively.
Education
The data are based on responses from 500 students.
The writer is emphasizing collected responses.
Everyday English
The data is not available yet.
This is natural when referring to information as a whole.
Synonyms
Because data can mean information, useful alternatives include:
- information
- facts
- figures
- statistics
- records
- details
- findings
- measurements
- evidence
- observations
The best synonym depends on the intended meaning. For example, measurements is more specific than information, while findings usually refers to conclusions or results.
Antonyms
Data does not have a single direct antonym, but contextually opposite concepts may include:
- ignorance
- misinformation
- uncertainty
- speculation
- opinion
- assumption
These are not strict dictionary antonyms of data. They are contextual contrasts.
Memory Trick
Use this simple rule:
Data = information → “is”
Data = individual facts/results → “are”
Think:
This data is = this information is
These data are = these facts are
Another useful memory trick is to look at the word before data:
- this data is
- that data is
- much data is
versus:
- these data are
- those data are
- many data are
Similar Confusing Words
If you are interested in English words that create similar grammar questions, compare:
- Information is vs information are
- Statistics is vs statistics are
- Media is vs media are
- Criteria is vs criteria are
- Phenomena is vs phenomena are
- Datum vs data
- Amount vs number
- Less vs fewer
- None is vs none are
These comparisons are useful because many involve nouns whose number or grammatical treatment can vary according to meaning and context.
Why Do People Search “Data Is or Data Are”?
People usually search this phrase because they encounter uncertainty while writing.
Common search questions include:
- Is data singular or plural?
- Should I say data is or data are?
- Is “the data is” grammatically correct?
- Is “the data are” correct?
- Should academic writing use data is or data are?
- Is data singular in American English?
- Is data singular in British English?
- Why do scientists say data are?
- What is the plural of datum?
- Does data take a singular verb?
The underlying search intent is usually grammar clarification. Writers want to know which verb agrees with data and which form is appropriate for their specific context.
FAQs
1. Is “data is” grammatically correct?
Yes. Data is is grammatically correct when data is treated as a singular or noncount noun meaning information. This usage is especially common in general and computing contexts.
2. Is “data are” grammatically correct?
Yes. Data are is grammatically correct when data is treated as a plural noun referring to individual facts, measurements, observations, or results.
3. Which is correct: data is or data are?
Both are correct. The choice depends on whether data is being treated as a singular mass noun or a plural noun.
4. Should I use “data is” in everyday English?
Usually, yes, when you mean information as a whole. For example: “The data is available.”
5. Should scientific writing use “data are”?
Data are remains a strong and traditional choice in scientific and technical writing, particularly when individual observations or results are being discussed.
6. Is data singular or plural?
It can be either. Historically, data is plural, but modern dictionaries recognize singular/noncount use as well.
7. What is the singular of data?
The traditional singular is datum, meaning an individual fact or item of information. The singular word datum is now relatively uncommon in ordinary English.
8. Is “these data are” correct?
Yes. This is the traditional plural construction and is especially common in scientific writing.
9. Is “this data is” correct?
Yes. It is correct when data is being treated as a noncount noun meaning information.
10. Is “the data shows” correct?
Yes, when data is treated as a singular noncount noun. If data is being treated as plural, use the data show.
11. Is “the data are” more formal?
It can sound more formal or traditional because plural treatment is strongly associated with scientific and academic writing. However, data is is also standard English.
12. Is the difference between data is and data are regional?
Not exclusively. Both forms occur in British and American English. The difference is more strongly influenced by meaning, field, and writing style than by geography.
Expert Recommendation
The safest approach is not to memorize data is as right and data are as wrong—or the reverse.
Instead, decide what data means in your sentence.
If you mean information as a whole, singular agreement is natural:
The data is available.
If you mean separate facts, measurements, or observations, plural agreement is appropriate:
The data are presented in the table.
For scientific or technical writing, check the publication or institutional style guide because some editors deliberately preserve the traditional plural treatment. The Chicago Manual of Style also recognizes that data can be either singular or plural and recommends considering the intended meaning and context.
The most important rule is consistency. If you choose the plural interpretation, use plural determiners and verbs. If you choose the singular/noncount interpretation, use singular agreement.
Final Verdict
Data is and data are are both correct.
The traditional grammatical treatment considers data the plural of datum, so data are is appropriate when referring to separate facts, measurements, or observations. This usage remains especially common in scientific and technical writing.
Modern English also treats data as a noncount noun meaning information. In that construction, data is is standard and extremely common, particularly in computing, business, and general writing. Major dictionaries including Oxford, Cambridge, Merriam-Webster, and Collins recognize this variation.
Key Takeaways
- Data is is correct when data means information as a whole.
- Data are is correct when data is treated as a plural noun.
- Data are remains especially common in scientific and formal technical writing.
- Data is is very common in modern general and computing English.
- Datum is the traditional singular form of data.
- British and American English both use data is and data are.
- Do not automatically label either construction incorrect.
- Match determiners and verbs: this data is / these data are.
- Follow your publication or institutional style guide in formal writing.
- The best choice depends on meaning, context, field, and style, not simply on the spelling of data.
I am Daniel Carter, a grammar enthusiast and language educator with over 10 years of experience helping students and professionals improve their English writing and communication skills. I enjoy simplifying complex grammar rules into easy-to-understand lessons that anyone can follow. My goal is to help learners write with confidence, avoid common mistakes, and develop strong communication skills for academic and professional success. I regularly create practical grammar guides, writing tips, and language resources that make learning both enjoyable and effective.
Books: Mastering English Grammar and The Complete Guide to Better Writing
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