by Effie Moore Salem

Created on: November 20, 2009   Last Updated: February 02, 2010

The differences between data and information is the difference between letters and numbers, writing and calculating, thinking and acting. You see these work together, often interchangeably, but there are main differences; Data is numerically inclined and information is word inclined but they do work harmoniously together. At first thought differences between data and information is somewhat like the differences between words, figures and graphs vs. documents. Or differences between documents and spreadsheets. This definition enlarges to encompass the difference between business and non-business information. Of the two information is the broader term; it includes data, and data is information.

Another distinction is between written and oral. Data is nearly always written facts and figures and information comes in many forms, written, oral and in gestures. Dependent upon the topic whether business generated - the origin of this topic - or in some vocabulary source, the slant will either favor one over the other. In either of these two categories, the distinctions may take on different meanings.

In the business world data is fact sheets, annual records, payout sheets and other day by day information necessary to keep all informed about what is going on, what has gone on, and it will include plans for the future. Statistics too have their place where data is concerned. Personnel management tactics and necessary background information is included in business data.

Business information is in the forms of newsletters, staff meetings; person to person talks, bulletins, videos and any way that informs employers and employees about work related conditions. We take clues from the verb to inform, which means to tell. What has been told will be the information. On the other hand, data clues us on its meaning by changing one letter in date to what has been at some past date or what is to be at some future date.

Data had its origins in the seventeenth century according to the Oxford Dictionary of Word Histories, edited by Glynnis Chantrell. (2002). It was a philosophical term and was used for presumed facts. Derived from the Latin plural datum, a piece of information. This source also says in today's usage it most often used in computational context. Inform is from Middle English. The spelling was both enforme and informe and meant give form or shape to and from the mind of, or teach.

Probing further into the differences of the two words the thesaurus shows these distinctions for Data: information, statistics, facts, figures, numbers and records. Information by way of to inform means to tell, notify, update, report, bring up to date, put in the picture and to enlighten.

The two are inseparable. Yet data as shown remain a part of information, and turn that around and information contains data. One cannot be without the other. And nowhere is this truer than in business data and informational sources. When employers want to impress potential clients they cite statistics in their informational business letters, while at the same time being careful with the facts and figures. These they glean from their filed records.

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