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Author Topic: Words and Grammar and Stuff  (Read 126228 times)

oneaprilday

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Re: Words and Grammar and Stuff
« Reply #590 on: April 01, 2010, 06:38:51 PM »
Robert Siegel on NPR today, in reference to a story on North Korea, said, "The media are state-controlled."

I would have said, "The media is . . ." and treated "media" as a collective noun (eg. The committee is making a decision; the choir is singing an oratorio) rather than a plural noun (people are weird).

I guess "media" is the plural of "medium," so should I always treat it like a plural noun and use "are"? Or is "media" in some cases a collective noun?  ??

ses

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Re: Words and Grammar and Stuff
« Reply #591 on: April 01, 2010, 06:47:07 PM »
Robert Siegel on NPR today, in reference to a story on North Korea, said, "The media are state-controlled."

I would have said, "The media is . . ." and treated "media" as a collective noun (eg. The committee is making a decision; the choir is singing an oratorio) rather than a plural noun (people are weird).

I guess "media" is the plural of "medium," so should I always treat it like a plural noun and use "are"? Or is "media" in some cases a collective noun?  ??


I thought media is supposed to be treated as a plural noun, kind of like bacteria is the plural of bacterium.
"It's a fool who looks for logic in the chambers of the human heart"

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oneaprilday

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Re: Words and Grammar and Stuff
« Reply #592 on: April 01, 2010, 06:51:46 PM »
Robert Siegel on NPR today, in reference to a story on North Korea, said, "The media are state-controlled."

I would have said, "The media is . . ." and treated "media" as a collective noun (eg. The committee is making a decision; the choir is singing an oratorio) rather than a plural noun (people are weird).

I guess "media" is the plural of "medium," so should I always treat it like a plural noun and use "are"? Or is "media" in some cases a collective noun?  ??


I thought media is supposed to be treated as a plural noun, kind of like bacteria is the plural of bacterium.
Most people, or at least many people, say "media is," don't they?

ses

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Re: Words and Grammar and Stuff
« Reply #593 on: April 01, 2010, 06:56:33 PM »
Robert Siegel on NPR today, in reference to a story on North Korea, said, "The media are state-controlled."

I would have said, "The media is . . ." and treated "media" as a collective noun (eg. The committee is making a decision; the choir is singing an oratorio) rather than a plural noun (people are weird).

I guess "media" is the plural of "medium," so should I always treat it like a plural noun and use "are"? Or is "media" in some cases a collective noun?  ??


I thought media is supposed to be treated as a plural noun, kind of like bacteria is the plural of bacterium.
Most people, or at least many people, say "media is," don't they?

I think that is true, but I don't think it is correct. When referring to "the media", I think that it commonly seen as a single entity, so maybe that is why most people say "The media is", but you wouldn't say "Media is", you would say "Media are".
"It's a fool who looks for logic in the chambers of the human heart"

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oneaprilday

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Re: Words and Grammar and Stuff
« Reply #594 on: April 01, 2010, 07:07:31 PM »
Robert Siegel on NPR today, in reference to a story on North Korea, said, "The media are state-controlled."

I would have said, "The media is . . ." and treated "media" as a collective noun (eg. The committee is making a decision; the choir is singing an oratorio) rather than a plural noun (people are weird).

I guess "media" is the plural of "medium," so should I always treat it like a plural noun and use "are"? Or is "media" in some cases a collective noun?  ??


I thought media is supposed to be treated as a plural noun, kind of like bacteria is the plural of bacterium.
Most people, or at least many people, say "media is," don't they?

I think that is true, but I don't think it is correct. When referring to "the media", I think that it commonly seen as a single entity, so maybe that is why most people say "The media is", but you wouldn't say "Media is", you would say "Media are".
Makes sense. I'm going to be more conscious of this now and probably drive my friends crazy. :)

Here's one blog/article about the usage that I found helpful.

FLYmeatwad

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Re: Words and Grammar and Stuff
« Reply #595 on: April 01, 2010, 08:20:21 PM »
Doesn't go here, but didn't know where to post it, so what ever. Do you people, collectively or inidivdually, believe that Ginsberg's "Howl"'s aesthetic and rhetorical choices raise questions of marginalization in terms of race, gender, sexuality, socio-economic status or political affiliation. Not all, perhaps, but at least one or more? I am whittling down poems to use for part of my content exam and this one seems fitting, and non-generic.

'Noke

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Re: Words and Grammar and Stuff
« Reply #596 on: April 01, 2010, 08:26:22 PM »
Doesn't go here, but didn't know where to post it, so what ever. Do you people, collectively or inidivdually, believe that Ginsberg's "Howl"'s aesthetic and rhetorical choices raise questions of marginalization in terms of race, gender, sexuality, socio-economic status or political affiliation. Not all, perhaps, but at least one or more? I am whittling down poems to use for part of my content exam and this one seems fitting, and non-generic.

I haven't read it.

You should start a poetry thread.
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FLYmeatwad

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Re: Words and Grammar and Stuff
« Reply #597 on: April 01, 2010, 08:27:02 PM »
Doesn't go here, but didn't know where to post it, so what ever. Do you people, collectively or inidivdually, believe that Ginsberg's "Howl"'s aesthetic and rhetorical choices raise questions of marginalization in terms of race, gender, sexuality, socio-economic status or political affiliation. Not all, perhaps, but at least one or more? I am whittling down poems to use for part of my content exam and this one seems fitting, and non-generic.

I haven't read it.

You should start a poetry thread.

Indeed, though there may be one already.

pixote

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Re: Words and Grammar and Stuff
« Reply #598 on: April 02, 2010, 02:43:02 PM »
Pop quiz time again.

1) Hold your peace.
2) Say your peace.
3) Hold your piece.
4) Say your piece.

Which two are correct?

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'Noke

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Re: Words and Grammar and Stuff
« Reply #599 on: April 02, 2010, 02:46:08 PM »
1) Hold your peace.
4) Say your piece.

I think.
I actually consider a lot of movies to be life-changing! I take them to my heart and they melt into my personality.