SciFi and Fantasy Book Club discussion

My apologies to those who are members of both this group and Sci Fi Aficionados -- I wanted to get feedback from both groups.

When I write, I try to avoid words that will pull the reader out of the story. For example, if what seems to me like the perfect word is very obscure, I reluctantly look for something that more readers will understand without having to puzzle over it. Similarly, if a technically correct usage has become unusual enough, I at least contemplate using the currently expected usage. I'm now trying to decide whether so many readers expect "data" to take a singular verb (e.g., "there wasn't enough data" instead of "there weren't enough data") that the plural verb will pull many readers out of the story. Or is the opposite true for SF readers, who are more likely to know that the singular noun is "datum"? Guidance, anyone?

Karen A. Wyle
www.karenawyle.net

What an amazing coincidence! Just a few days ago in a library school lecture for a research methods class a professor told us that he would deduct a point for each instance if we treated data as singular.

Science fiction is not academic and no one here is deducting points. :) To me "The data are..." sounds awkward, but there is so little difference between "the data demonstrate" and "the data demonstrates" that I don't feel that it makes one bit of difference which you use.

If it was used in plural form as the first dialogue spoken by a character, it would tell me the character probably has an academic or scientific background. But in general exposition the plural form would pull me out of the story.

I did a quick search for definitions and usage of the word, never heard of a "mass noun" until now.

Thanks!

It can be used as a singular or a pleural noun:

"Incidentally, by general usage data is now accepted as a singular collective noun." J. Allan Speaking of Computers 1965

When I was in college and afterward as a working statistician, I always used data as a plural word, so "the data are...". But now I'm much older :) and find that I'm most likely to treat "data" as a singular collective noun, like "furniture" (as noted by Kernos above).

Karen wrote: "...When I write, I try to avoid words that will pull the reader out of the story. For example, if what seems to me like the perfect word is very obscure, I reluctantly look for something that more readers will understand without having to puzzle over it..."

IMO, I would choose the perfect word, even if obscure or obsolete or technical. One of the wonders of reading is learning new words or being introduced to research a new concept. The best literature does this, IMO.

In the old days, I kept a dictionary around to look up words. It's so much easier these days with electronic dictionaries, iPads, Kindles... I keep Webster's unabridged and all of Wikipedia on my iPad so I can easily look things up while reading. I wish the OED were available for download...

I agree - in theory - that expanding ones vocabulary is a noble goal. But I would feel I've failed as a storyteller if someone is willing to halt the adventure long enough to look up something I've dredged from the bowels of the Thesaurus. It's the same reason I rarely use "made-up" words in my fantasy fiction - I don't need someone's disbelief to come crashing down because they can't remember that a "gruntelier" is a fancy drinking mug. I want those eyes on the page (or screen), and I want them to stay there.

@Karen I couldn't agree more with your approach. Take this with a grain of salt as none of my writing has been published (nor have I seriously tried). With respect specifically to data, when is the last time you heard or read the word datum?

@Peggy I only slightly disagree from a reader's perspective. I love it when an author challenges me occasionally with a word that I don't know ( as you did in your post ;) ) as long as it is perfectly used. Fun new words bring me joy.

I will be now and forever be looking for a place to use the word gruntelier.

Peggy wrote: "I agree - in theory - that expanding ones vocabulary is a noble goal. But I would feel I've failed as a storyteller if someone is willing to halt the adventure long enough to look up something I've..."

I understand where you are coming from. OTOH, I need a book to challenge me. The best, IMO, make me stop an think about what is being said, cause me to re-read parts to understand better and yes, even cause me to look up words or remember neologisms.