Plural words

In addition to the word data, other scientific plurals are often problematic for novice writers. Table 4.3 includes a list of confusing singular and plural word forms. 

Common irregular plural words used in scientific writing... 

Several chemistry words have tricky plural forms, and the plural form must be accompanied by a plural verb. A few particularly troublesome singular/plural word combinations are described below. 

Proofreading Tip The singular/plural words introduced in this language tip are used frequently in chemistry writing. If you are unfamiliar with the two forms, memorize them. Remember that it is rare to use the singular word datum. Because you will most likely use the plural form, data, make sure you use it with a plural verb form. 

The word data is a plural word indicating more than one piece of numerical information. The singular form of the term is datum. As the statistical analyses described in this book always analyze more than one data point the term "data" is used throughout. Accordingly, accompanying plural words are used in conjunction with the word data. Examples are "the data are, the data were, these data, the data show."... 

Data is another term that is used widely with many meanings and applications. To most people, data means numbers, but in fact data includes many kinds of information including text and images. Data is a plural word, to emphasize the fact that they are multiple kinds of information - i.e., these data are important. 

The next steps consist of the extraction and normalization of terms from the zoned input document. To this end, we apply standard natural language processing techniques and normalize the extracted terms to their canonical form with string manipulations and morphological analysis. The former refers to the treatment of symbols (e.g., dashes), and the latter refers to variations of words due to inflection (e.g., plurals). These steps of information extraction rely on, and make extensive use of, our terminologies and ontologies. 

The word criterion is used of a principle or thing we choose to use as a standard when judging a situation. The plural or criterion is criteria, not criterions. ... 

Spectrum is a Latin word, so its plural is spectra, never spec-trums. ... 

Most words are made plural by simply adding an 5. However, if a word ends in x or s, sh or ch, the suffix es must be added to form a plural. 

If the word ends in a consonant plus -y, change the -y into -ie and add an -5 to form the plural. 

Use an 5 to form the plurals of letters, figures, and numbers used as words, as well as certain expressions of time and money. The expressions of time and money do not indicate ownership in the usual sense ... 

The majority of biochemical reactions are reversible under physiological conditions of substrate concentration. In metabolism, we are therefore dealing with chemical equilibria (plural). The word equilibrium (singular) signifies a balance, which in chemical terms implies that the rate of a forward reaction is balanced (i.e. the same as) the rate of the corresponding reverse reaction. 

The word form is also used for numbers that start a sentence, unless the number is part of a chemical name. Whenever possible, however, rewrite the sentence so that it does not begin with a number. Units are spelled out following a number in word form and the plural verb is used (e.g., Ten milliliters were...). A sentence that begins with a spelled-out number reverts back to numerical form, when appropriate, in the rest of the sentence. Consider the following examples ... 

The word data is commonly misused by writers the mistake involves using data as a singular noun. In nearly all instances, the word data is plural and should be used with a plural verb ... 

Until you become more familiar with data being plural, you may read over a passage using data with a singular verb and not even notice the error (e.g., data shows sounds correct to many native English speakers). It is difficult to catch a mistake that does not sound wrong. In fact, many chemists use the word data as... 

Table4.3 Singular and plural forms of common scientific words (adapted from The ACS Style Guide Coghill and Garson, 2006, p 128). 

The following sentences may contain one or two errors with regard to singular and plural forms of words. Decide whether each sentence contains errors. If it does, correct the sentence. If the sentence is correct as written, indicate no change needed . 

See appendix A for other plural and singular scientific words.)... 

Plural and Singular Scientific Words 616 Split Infinitives 619 Subject-Verb Agreement 620 Punctuation... 

The word datum (singular) is rarely used. The word data is plural it must be accompanied by verb forms that are used with plural nouns. Note that if the term data set is used, the singular verb form is used. (For examples of data as a singular noun, consult table 4.2). 

The word spectra is the plural form of spectrum. Use spectra with plural verb forms and spectrum with singular verb forms ... 

Tip 2 When two or more subjects are joined with the word and, use a plural verb form. When two or more subjects are joined by or, the verb should take the number (i.e., singular or plural) of the closest subject. 

Tip 6 It is common to make subject-verb agreement errors with certain nouns, such as data and spectra. Refer to Plural and Singular Scientific Words, above, for help with errors of this type. 

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