Everyone seemed to be taking The It’s Its There Their They’re Quiz, so I thought I would give it a try.
As annoying as these all-too-common errors are, I find it worse when science bloggers use “data” or “bacteria” as the singular (both are plural — of “datum” and “bacterium,” respectively). In other words, “this data shows…” irritates me more than “this bird uses it’s beak to…” on a scientific website.
Yup, “this data” gets me too. I’ve even had people tell me ‘oh, I know it’s “these data”, but no-one says that and it makes you sound stuffy and old’.
This is my real science pet peeve, but it never seems to bother anyone else I talk to!
Since coming to this site I have learnt and discovered what was possible. Please keep me posted on any developments.
Thanks,
antibodiest