Pedants' Paradise

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

From a book review in today's Guardian: “Social media is every ethnic entrepreneur’s dream,” writes [Barbara] Walter.

I think 'social media are' would have been neater, since there are many well-known brands among social media.

I think there are some publishers whose editorial staff would have made this alteration. But it seems that 'media' like 'data' has become a singular noun.

Indeed. "Media" is plural.

[french frank]

Indeed. "Media" is plural.

'Agenda' is interesting because it can (in English) be singular or plural: plural because it refers to the "Things that are to be done/discussed" and singular when it refers either to the piece of paper on which they are listed ("Do you have an agenda?") or the notional list, the things considered as an entity ("there is a hidden agenda here" but not "there are hidden agenda here").

The lesson is that English is not Latin and a word may look the same but the meaning may have altered slightly (referendums/referenda). Media and data are still considered plurals in some circles but once they are adopted as English words they're fair game. I daresay the 'hypercorrectionists' will be referring to mediae/medias, and datae/datas soon.

[kernelbogey]

...once they are adopted as English words they're fair game....

In sayng 'media...are' would have been neater, I was arguing that the singular loses some subtlety. But I concede FF's wider point.

[french frank]

In sayng 'media...are' would have been neater, I was arguing that the singular loses some subtlety. But I concede FF's wider point.

Yes, I was 'qualifying' Alpie's comment rather than responding to yours. 'Media' is [sic as in 'the word "media" is'] still a plural word - usually - in my lexicon, and I try to remember to treat 'data' as a plural .

[Bryn]

Ah, media and data, the grocers' singulars.

[kernelbogey]

...I try to remember to treat 'data' as a plural .

Collins's English Dictionary used - I haven't checked a recent edition - to gloss entries such as data with the phrase careful users of English prefer.....

[cloughie]

BBC not often seen referred to as a medium!

[kernelbogey]

Would a conference of clairvoyants be described as a meeting of media?

[french frank]

Collins's English Dictionary used - I haven't checked a recent edition - to gloss entries such as data with the phrase careful users of English prefer.....

Some users employ/encounter the word professionally (statisticians, for example) and their usage conforms with 'classical Latin' usage. Linguistically, there's no reason for it to be similarly used by non professionals; in fact it will eventually, I predict, come to be seen as pretentious in a "We know better" way.

Would a conference of clairvoyants be described as a meeting of media?

Excellent! Of course, they are mediums because, like referendums and agendas, the meaning has altered.

[cloughie]

Some users employ/encounter the word professionally (statisticians, for example) and their usage conforms with 'classical Latin' usage. Linguistically, there's no reason for it to be similarly used by non professionals; in fact it will eventually, I predict, come to be seen as pretentious in a "We know better" way.

Excellent! Of course, they are mediums because, like referendums and agendas, the meaning has altered.

And depending on size there can be small, medium and large mediums. No doubt at times reported by the media!

[gurnemanz]

I agree with fellow pedants about media being plural. The only mitigation I can find is that the term "social media" does seem to have become used as a singular concept or subject area as well as a plural referring to all the specific manifestations of it.

"Social media is a computer-based technology that facilitates the sharing of ideas, thoughts, and information through the building of virtual networks and communities."
Quoted from here

Another similar case might be "fine arts" used with "is" here

[Bryn]

Some users employ/encounter the word professionally (statisticians, for example) and their usage conforms with 'classical Latin' usage. Linguistically, there's no reason for it to be similarly used by non professionals; in fact it will eventually, I predict, come to be seen as pretentious in a "We know better" way.



Excellent! Of course, they are mediums because, like referendums and agendas, the meaning has altered.

Hmm. I can't say that I have encountered the use of "medias", other than as the proper noun Medias.

[french frank]

Hmm. I can't say that I have encountered the use of "medias", other than as the proper noun Medias.

No, that was a reference to possible future hypercorrectionists. On the other hand, what about 'In medias res'?

[gurnemanz]

Hmm. I can't say that I have encountered the use of "medias", other than as the proper noun Medias.

Operas is the the plural of opera which technically is already plural.

[Bryn]

Operas is the the plural of opera which technically is already plural.

Indeed. How was it that the plural of opus came to mean a work of music drama?