D
Danny Colyer
Guest
joemarshall wrote:
> Surely when people say 'the media is', they are referring to the group
> of people, companies, newspapers, tv stations etc. that communicate over
> the communication mediums, rather than the collection of media that you
> are assuming. 'The media' is a noun for that group in the same way 'the
> herd' is a singular noun for a group of cows.
Effectively, people use "media" as a mass noun. The OED now describes
data as a mass noun, though to me it will always be a plural noun.
My New Oxford Dictionary describes "media" as:
"1. plural form of MEDIUM.
2. the main means of mass communication (especially television, radio
and newspapers) regarded collectively."
Which clearly seems to say that "media" is a plural noun, so "media is"
should never be used.
Distressingly, it then goes on to say:
"Usage: The word *media* comes from the Latin plural of *medium*. The
traditional view is that it should therefore be treated as a plural noun
in all its senses in English and be used with a plural rather than a
singular verb: the media *have* not followed the reports (rather than
'has'). In practice, in the sense 'television, radio and the press
collectively', it behaves as a collective noun (like *staff* or
*clergy*, for example), which means that it is now acceptable in
standard English for it to take either a singular or plural verb."
(There's a similar note on usage under the entry for "Data").
<grumpy pedant>
Hrrmph, acceptable to them, maybe, but not to me. I'm very much a
traditionalist when it comes to language. Communication is /so/ much
more effective when people stick to the rules.
</grumpy pedant>
--
Danny Colyer (my reply address is valid but checked infrequently)
<URL:http://www.speedy5.freeserve.co.uk/danny/>
"He who dares not offend cannot be honest." - Thomas Paine
> Surely when people say 'the media is', they are referring to the group
> of people, companies, newspapers, tv stations etc. that communicate over
> the communication mediums, rather than the collection of media that you
> are assuming. 'The media' is a noun for that group in the same way 'the
> herd' is a singular noun for a group of cows.
Effectively, people use "media" as a mass noun. The OED now describes
data as a mass noun, though to me it will always be a plural noun.
My New Oxford Dictionary describes "media" as:
"1. plural form of MEDIUM.
2. the main means of mass communication (especially television, radio
and newspapers) regarded collectively."
Which clearly seems to say that "media" is a plural noun, so "media is"
should never be used.
Distressingly, it then goes on to say:
"Usage: The word *media* comes from the Latin plural of *medium*. The
traditional view is that it should therefore be treated as a plural noun
in all its senses in English and be used with a plural rather than a
singular verb: the media *have* not followed the reports (rather than
'has'). In practice, in the sense 'television, radio and the press
collectively', it behaves as a collective noun (like *staff* or
*clergy*, for example), which means that it is now acceptable in
standard English for it to take either a singular or plural verb."
(There's a similar note on usage under the entry for "Data").
<grumpy pedant>
Hrrmph, acceptable to them, maybe, but not to me. I'm very much a
traditionalist when it comes to language. Communication is /so/ much
more effective when people stick to the rules.
</grumpy pedant>
--
Danny Colyer (my reply address is valid but checked infrequently)
<URL:http://www.speedy5.freeserve.co.uk/danny/>
"He who dares not offend cannot be honest." - Thomas Paine
