MrB:
There is nothing wrong with your conceptualization of the word media, but I am talking about a linguistic or grammatical interpretation. For those trained in Latin, it is indeed awkward or painful to hear the media is, which to our ear sounds just like the movies is. Just because the word doesn't have a terminal s doesn't mean it isn't plural. Where the deer and the antelope play, for example. I went into some detail about these Latin and Greek plurals in an earlier post
Message 3077016
If you read it you will see that I make allowances for "naturalized" words which adopt the English plural form, such as asylums, and certainly no one will speak of asyla. But as far as making plural nouns (data, media, diverticula) singular just because they don't end in an s, and using them with singular verb forms, I just can't accept it. But my generation is dying out, so it will probably be accepted soon. For me, it must be:
These data are unacceptable.
The news media are competing with each other.
Your use of medium when referring to CD-ROM is appropriate.
Thanks for your thoughts, Mr. B. I realize I am bucking a headwind here. Any other threaders care to comment?
Jack |
