I can live with data as a singular noun, though strictly speaking the singular form is datum, and data is plural. I do live in the real world and understand that the data are clear sounds wrong to most people. So I shrugged and turned the page when I realized that my favorite newspaper, The New York Times, has begun to treat data as singular. A recent headline stated something like The Data Is Grounds for Optimism. Maybe in economics, I thought, but not in grammar and style.

I draw the line, though, at politics (on so many levels, but in this blog I’ll stick to grammar). On September 19, 2014, the Times quoted Charles de Gaulle: “Politics are too serious a matter to be left to politicians.” Charles de Gaulle was a French politician, so in an effort to be fair, I wrote to my friend Jacqueline, who has been recognized by the French government for her dedication and service to the teaching of the French language. I asked her whether politics is a plural noun in French. Her answer came immediately:

Bonjour Gerri,

La politique  – singular feminine

Have a great day,

Jacqueline

I’m left with a few possible conclusions: (1) Charles de Gaulle got it wrong and made la politique plural or (2) the translator blew it or (3) the Times reporter thinks the English word politics is plural. I’m hoping for the first, because de Gaulle is dead and can’t mangle any language in his current condition. The second possibility is bad, but not terrible. New translators can be hired. But the third option is a grammatical disaster. Please, NYT, inform your reporters that the news is important (not are), and politics is too. Not to mention English usage.