Language Log has a post about this topic<p><a href="http:&#x2F;&#x2F;languagelog.ldc.upenn.edu&#x2F;nll&#x2F;?p=4396" rel="nofollow">http:&#x2F;&#x2F;languagelog.ldc.upenn.edu&#x2F;nll&#x2F;?p=4396</a><p>I quote:<p>&quot;My own view is that there are contexts where it’s okay to treat data as a plural, but none in which you can’t treat it as a singular—and that contrary to what many “reasonable” usage writers counsel, this isn&#x27;t simply a matter of “style and personal preference.” &quot;<p>Other, shorter, humorous, posts about data:<p><a href="http:&#x2F;&#x2F;languagelog.ldc.upenn.edu&#x2F;nll&#x2F;?p=4401" rel="nofollow">http:&#x2F;&#x2F;languagelog.ldc.upenn.edu&#x2F;nll&#x2F;?p=4401</a><p><a href="http:&#x2F;&#x2F;languagelog.ldc.upenn.edu&#x2F;nll&#x2F;?p=14970" rel="nofollow">http:&#x2F;&#x2F;languagelog.ldc.upenn.edu&#x2F;nll&#x2F;?p=14970</a><p><a href="http:&#x2F;&#x2F;languagelog.ldc.upenn.edu&#x2F;nll&#x2F;?p=20635" rel="nofollow">http:&#x2F;&#x2F;languagelog.ldc.upenn.edu&#x2F;nll&#x2F;?p=20635</a>