ATI TEAS (Test of Essential Academic Skills) Version 7English and Language UsageMedium
A medical student is writing a research paper and includes the sentence: 'The data suggests that further investigation is warranted.' A peer reviewer points out a grammatical error. What is the most likely error?
- ASubject-verb agreement error with 'data'.
- BMisuse of the word 'warranted'.
- CIncorrect verb tense for 'suggests'.
- DMissing comma after 'suggests'.
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: A. Subject-verb agreement error with 'data'.
The word 'data' is a Latin plural noun (singular 'datum'). Therefore, it typically takes a plural verb. The sentence should ideally read, 'The data suggest that further investigation is warranted.'
Why the other options are wrong
- B. 'Warranted' (justified or necessary) is used correctly in this context.
- C. The verb tense 'suggests' (present tense) is appropriate for a scientific observation, assuming the data still suggests this.
- D. A comma is not typically required after 'suggests' in this sentence structure.
Subject-Verb Agreement (Data)
Ensuring the verb in a sentence correctly matches its subject in number (singular or plural). For 'data,' historically plural, modern usage often accepts it as singular in some contexts, but academically, plural is preferred.
- 'Data' is technically the plural of 'datum'.
- In formal and academic writing, 'data' typically takes a plural verb (e.g., 'data are').
- In informal or common usage, 'data' is sometimes treated as a singular mass noun (e.g., 'data is').
Memory trick: Subject and verb should always agree, like partners in a dance.