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What would Julius Caesar Say?

The most peeving grammar rule in English involves Latin or Greek singular/plural word endings. For instance, the correct usage is “the selection criterion is” or “the selection criteria are.” By saying “the selection criteria is,” I am betraying my tenous grasp on the fundamental rules of the English language, outing myself as an ignoramus for not abiding by pompous dicta (dictums!) of a bunch of penes (penises!)

“There is no such thing as a piece of data,” says the theoretical snide grammarian, thrilled to be displaying his or her (their!) superior knowledge. “It’s actually a piece of datum. It comes from the Latin, you see. Therefore, you would never say ‘The data is,’ because ‘data’ is a plural. You must say ‘The data are.'” Why? Because the learned folk have a bewildering, sporadically-applied attachment to the nominative plural declension that defies ordinary grammar rules. Revolt – the criteria are (is!) archaic.

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