Whether you subscribe to the scientific definition of data (information on which operations are performed by a computer and transmitted in the form of electrical signals) or the philosophical definition (that which is known and used as the basis of reasoning or calculation), I think most people use the word “data” incorrectly.

If you’re a data scientist, or you become upset that this will be the only time I use the singular form “datum,” this article will probably disgust you, and I apologize. On the other hand, if you’re in marketing, sales, or just about any other department, then I hope this will help clarify the overused but super-useful word “data.”

One of the roots of the problem with the word is when it’s used as a generic noun. It’s overused and causes confusion. Confusion is the enemy, particularly in sales and marketing. Granted, data is a useful word because it’s short. When used among a group of people who work with the same type of data, the term works as a reference for what everyone knows you’re talking about.

 …