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(ordered by seriousness) ESL Vocabulary Lists Parts of Speech Lists A-Z Idioms and Proverbs Grammar Videos
(ordered by category) Tests and Games Top Tip Install a grammar checker
for your browser
Media (Singular or Plural?)
Should I write "the media is" or "the media are"?
"Media" is a collective noun, which means you can treat it as singular or plural depending on the sense of your sentence. If your sentence does not convey the idea of lots of individuals within the media, then you should treat "media" as singular.
Is "Media" Singular or Plural?
"Media" derives from the Latin plural of "medium." However, it does not follow that "media" should always be treated as a plural word in modern English. "Media" is no longer the plural of "medium." The plural of "medium" is "mediums."The Quick Answer
When "media" refers to the press or broadcasters, it is treated as a collective noun. This means it should be treated as singular, unless the context demands it be treated as plural (e.g., "The media were heading north and east.").More about the Word "Media"
The word "media" now means:- "Those who message through television, radio, the printed press or the electronic "press" (i.e., the internet)." (Using this definition, "media" is a collective noun, i.e., a word that represents a group of people, animals, or things.)
- The media are present with vans, lorries, scooters, and bicycles.
- The media is present.
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