One more reason to like Freakonomics

I forgot to mention this in my post on Freakonomics a couple of day ago.  Hold on while I climb onto my soap box

[clump]

[clump]

As if I needed another reason to really like this book, I was happy to note  that the  authors - Steven Levitt and Steven Dubner - correctly use the word data (as a plural, rather than singular noun).  It's used all over the book and their correct use of the word truly enhanced my reading enjoyment.

Now I just need to figure out how to get down off this damn box without falling . . .

Comments

[Ben Casnocha]

Yes, those academics usually get it right. It's out in the riff and rough of the real world where people throw around "data" as if it's nothing. The gentle way to correct is to re-state their sentence saying "Oh, so what you're saying is that the data are showing xyz." Or, as my brother would say, " 'Data is'? Are you a fucking idiot?"