News: Singular or Plural? Understanding Proper Usage

Understand’ news’: singular or plural?

Grammar questions oftentimes perplex regular the well-nigh careful writers, and the word’ news’ present a particular challenge. Is it singular or plural? Should you write’ the news is good’ or’ the news are good’? This ostensibly simple question touches on interesting aspects of English language evolution and usage rules.

The definitive answer:’ news’ is singular

Despite end with an’s’, the word’ news’ is treat as a singular noun in standard English usage. This mean it take singular verb forms:

• Correct: the news is troubling.
• Incorrect: the news are troubling.

This singular treatment applies disregarding of whether you’rdiscussedss a single news item or multiple stories. Still when refer to various pieces of information, the collective term’ news’ remain singular.

Why’ news’ cause confusion

The confusion stem from several factors:

Source: Merriam-Webster.com

The misleading’s’ ending

The well-nigh obvious source of confusion is the’s’ at the end of’ news.’ in English, plural nouns typically end with’s’ (books, cars, houses ) lead many to wrong assume’ news’ follow the same pattern.

Yet,’ news’ belong to a special category of nouns that end with’s’ but aren’t plural. Other examples include:

• Mathematics (the mathematics is complex, not are complex )
• Physics (physics is my favorite subject )
• Economics (economics have many practical applications )
• Measles (measles is a contagious disease )

Historical evolution

The word’ news’ evolve from the middle English word’ news,’ which was the plural form of’ nnew ( (w thing ).)ver time, it trantransformso a mass noun represent the concept of’ new information’ conjointly instead than individual’ new things.’

This historical shift explains why, despite its plural origins, modernEnglishh treats’ news’ as singular.

Mass noun classification

‘ nNews functions as a mass noun ((esides call uncountable noun ))Mass nouns refer to things that ca can’t count as individual units, such as water, air, or information. These nouns typically take singular verb forms disregardless of quantity.

Consider these examples:

• Water is essential for life. (not’ waters are’ )
• Information is valuable. (not’ information are’ )
• News travel fasting. (not’ news travel’ )

Grammar rules for use’ news’

Verb agreement

Ever use singular verb forms with’ news’:

• Correct: the news about the election was unexpected.
• Incorrect: the news about the election were unexpected.

Pronouns

Use singular pronouns when refer to news:

• Correct: this news is shocking. It comes as a surprise.
• Incorrect: this news is shocking. They come as a surprise.

Articles

‘ nNews typically take the definite article’ the’:

• The news of her promotion spread rapidly.

Notwithstanding, it can appear without an article in certain contexts:

• News travel fasting in small communities.
• Good news arrive yesterday.

Quantifiers and modifiers

Though’ news’ itself is singular, you can use certain modifiers to indicate quantity:

• Some news has arrived.( not’ have arrived))
• A piece of news (to refer to a single news item )
• Several pieces of news (to refer to multiple news items )
• A lot of news (quantity indicator, but stock still take singular verb )

Special cases and exceptions

‘ nNews in different contexts

While’ news’ as a general concept is singular, specific types of news programs or services might occasionally be treated otherwise:

• The six o’clock news is about to start. (standard usage )
• The BBC news provide global coverage. (organization name, singular )

Regional variations

English usage remain consistent across most regions regard’ news’ as singular. This rule apply in American English, British English, Canadian English, and Australian English with remarkable consistency.

Compound forms

Compound forms with’ news’ maintain singular treatment:

• The break news is alarming.
• This newspaper’s sports news focus on local teams.
• Financial news has been positive recently.

Common mistakes to avoid

Plural verb forms

The well-nigh common error is use plural verb forms with’ news’:

• Incorrect: the news are report a change in policy.
• Correct: the news is report a change in policy.

Plural pronouns

Another mistake involve use plural pronouns:

• Incorrect: I hear the news, and they surprise me.
• Correct: I hear the news, and it surprises me.

Countable usage

Attempt to make’ news’ countable without a qualifier is incorrect:

• Incorrect: I have three news to share.
• Correct: I have three pieces of news to share.

Similar words that cause confusion

Several other words end in’s’ follow similar patterns to’ news’:

E’er singular despite the’s’ ending

• Politics (politics is a challenging field )
• Statistics (statistics is my favorite subject )
• Linguistics (linguistics has many subfields )
• Diabetes (diabetes is a chronic condition )

Words that can be singular or plural

Unlike’ news,’ some words can be either singular or plural depend on context:

• Series (this series is interesting / these series are interesting )
• Species (this species is eendangered/ these species areendanger)r )
• Means (this mean is effective / these means are effective )

Historical usage of’ news’

Examine how’ news’ has been use throughout history provide insight into its current grammatical treatment.

In old and middle English,’ news’ was so plural, refer to multiple’ new things’ or’ new events.’ still, by the 16th century, it’d evolve into a collective noun represent information as a whole.

Shakespeare systematically uses’ news’ with singular verb forms in his works, indicate this shift had already occur by theElizabethann era:

Source: grammar monster.com

• ” tThenews is, sir, the vVolscianare in arms. ” ( (rCoriolanus)

By the 18th century, the singular treatment of’ news’ was steadfastly establish in standard English usage, where it remains today.

Professional usage in journalism

In professional journalism and media contexts,’ news’ is systematically treat as singular. Style guides for major news organizations like associated press, Reuters, and the New York times all specify singular treatment for’ news.’

Examples from headlines and reporting show this consistency:

• ” bBreaknews is come in about… ”
• ” tThenews of the merger was aannouncedtoday. ”
• ” fFinancialnews indicate market improvement. ”

Teaching and learning about’ news’

For English language learners, the singular treatment of’ news’ can be peculiarly challenging. Effective teaching approaches include:

1. Explain the concept of mass nouns
2. Provide clear examples of correct usage
3. Compare’ news’ to other nouns with similar patterns
4. Create practice exercises focus on verb agreement

Memory aids can help, such as:” news is new information ” emphasize both the singular verb and the uncountable nature of information ))

Practical tips for correct usage

Quick reference guide

• Ever use singular verbs with’ news’ (is, was, has, seem )
• Use singular pronouns (it, this, that )
• To count news items, use’ pieces of news’ or specific terms like’ stories’ or’ reports’
• Remember that’ news’ refer to information as a collective concept

Self checking method

When in doubt, try substitute’ news’ with’ information’ both are uncountable nouns that take singular verbs:

• The news is good → the information is good
• This news surprise me → this information surprise me

Conclusion

Despite its deceptive’s’ ending,’ news’ is unambiguously treat as a singular noun in standard English. This reflects its status as a mass noun represent the concept of new information conjointly.

Understand this rule help avoid common grammatical errors and ensure clear, professional communication. Whether you’re written a formal report, will craft a news article, or only will share information in everyday conversation, will treat’ news’ as singular will keep your language precise and correct.

The next time you hear someone say” the news are, ” ou’ll know the correct form is “” e news is ” you’ll understand precisely why.