Content or contents

Question

0 I have difficulty deciding when to add the "s".  For books, we say Table of Contents.  But how about a TV programme, a play, a website, a letter, a paper, etc? 0-

Avangi · Accepted Answer

0Hi Pter,02br
02br
00Just flying by the seat of my pants on this one, but I think it resembles the countable / uncountable issue. If the contents are countable, like chapters, indeces, glossaries, etc.; or in the case of containers: miscellaneous bolts, toiletries, cosmetics - then we add an "s." If it's uncountable stuff, like history, clever commentary, intellectual material (without the "s") then omit the "s."02br
02br
00We also might say that a TV program 01b01i01u00lacks02u02i02b00 content, meaning that it's content lacks depth.02br
02br
00 - A.0-

Philip · Answer

0 Hi, Avangi:02br
00I think that my pants fly about the same as yours on this one 02img

00. 0-

Pter · Answer

1blockquote

01cite10Avangi12cite10Just flying by the seat of my pants on this one12blockquote

12br
01blockquote

01cite10Philip12cite10Hi, Avangi:12br
10I think that my pants fly about the same as yours on this one 12img10.12blockquote

10Sorry, you lost me. What do you mean by that? An idiom?02br
02br
00I often need to write something like this:02br
001. The content/contents in the webpage(s) . . . .02br
002. The content/contents in the paper . . . .02br
003. The content/contents in the report . . . .02br
00If talking about information, information is uncountable. But if we are talking about words, ideas, these are countable. This word really gives me a headache. 0-

Avangi · Answer

0In speaking of a webpage, a paper, or a report, it could depend on the particular webpage, paper, or report; but even more it could depend on the focus of your remarks, and what specifically you wish to say about the content/contents.02br
02br
01i00The contents of the webpage were extremely varied, and included a thumbnail sketch of the author, a list of his major works, and several useful links to critical analyses.02i02br
02br
01i00The content of the webpage was disappointing. The information was inaccurate and the visual impression and graphics left me unimpressed.02i02br
02br
00Granted, there will be cases where both will work. I think generally the content would relate to the quality, and the contents would list the main features.02br
02br
00Re the pants, aerobatics aviators and fighter pilots often rely on the G-force pressures of their bodies against the seats to make judgements about how a maneuver is going. This would be in contrast to flying by instruments. That is, they respond "instinctively," rather than based on an exact plan. 0-

Susankay · Answer

0Don't use "Table of Contents" as an example of when to add "s" to the word content. In this case, the word "contents" is used to indicate what is contained in the book, but it has a specific use that can be both singular and plural.02br
02br
00The Table of Contents is easy to read. 02br
02br
00The Table of Contents were torn out of all the books. 02br
02br
00If you place an "a", or "the" in front of a word, then it generally is single. 02br
02br
00Place 01u00many,02u00 01u00several02u00, or 01u00some02u00 in front of a word to test it out if you want to see a plural:02br
02br
00Many plays02br
02br
00Some papers02br
02br
00Several websites. 0-

Pter · Answer

0I really appreciate your help. However, I am still not quite sure. Should I use the plural in this particular case?02br
00The 01b00content/contents02b00 of the website need to be updated periodically.0-

BarbaraPA · Answer

0I would use "content" for that. 0-

Avangi · Answer

1blockquote

01cite10Pter12cite10The 11b10content/contents12b10 of the website need to be updated periodically.12blockquote

12br
00Mightn't it depend on the nature of the website? If it's a single purpose website dedicated strictly to current news items, or the weather forcast for the next five days, obviously we update the 01b00content02b00. If it's a site like English Forums, the01b00 content02b00 is pretty much a constant, and the 01b00contents02b00 are updated, as we add new features, and new ways of navigating. 02br
02br
00With one of your other examples, let's say a term paper, you might say, "I gave him a 'B' on style and organization, but a 'D' on content." Perhaps the paper reviewed several clinical studies and had lots of footnotes. That would be the 01i00contents02i00. But by 01i00content02i00, we mean, "I gave him a 'D' 01i01u00in terms of02u00 content02i00," if I may steal Marius' expression. Content is sort of a quality in this case.0-

Pter · Answer

0Thanks to you all for your patience and explanations. I have come to the following conclusion: 02br
001. If possible, re-write it and avoid using the word 01i01b00content02b02i00. E.g. it is better to write "The website needs to be updated periodically." instead of "The content/contents of the website need(s) to be updated periodically." It is shorter, simpler and easier to understand. The word 01b00content02b00 is just unnecessary here and I imagine in most cases I can just get rid of it.02br
002. Use the plural when the context is talking about something countable, such as a table of contents, a list of things, and physical items. If I can replace 01b00content02b00 with 01b00items02b00, it is very likely that I should use the plural.02br
003. When talking about the ideas, information or discussing its quality, use the singular.02br
02br
00Yet, the following examples from dictionaries are still puzzling to me:02br
00Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English -02br
00She kept the 01b00contents02b00 of the letter a secret.02br
00When you delete a file, the 01b00contents02b00 of the file are still on the disk.02br
00Collins Cobuild -02br
00He read the letter again although already he could have recited its 01b00contents02b00 blindfold.02br
00The letter's 01b00contents02b00 were not disclosed.02br
00The 01b00contents02b00 of this booklet should be of use to all students...02br
02br
00The examples below can still fit into the category of "physical things" and therefore my rule number 2 above seems to still apply. But the fact that the object is uncountable is still troubling me.02br
00Collins Cobuild - 02br
02br
00A large diesel tank mysteriously leaked its 01b00contents02b00 into the river. <-- Liquid, uncountable.02br
02br
00Antacids are alkaline and they relieve pain by neutralizing acid in the 01b00contents02b00 of the stomach. <--- Try to count the contents in the stomach? Yuck!0-

Avangi · Answer

1blockquote

01cite10Pter12cite10 Try to count the contents in the stomach? Yuck!12blockquote

10We do it all the time! 02br
02br
00I hope you can believe this has been as frustrating for me as it has for you. 01u00My02u00 conclusion, in addition to applauding your firm ones, is that in those cases where both seem to work, the writer, or speaker, should 01i01u01b00use02b02u02i00 the word(s) as a tool to make his point. A great many of these uses seem to defy generalization. Ask a native speaker, as you have in the past - I hope with at least 01i00some 02i00satisfaction - "What does 01i01u00this02u02i00 sentence mean to you 01i01u00with02u02i00 the "s,"; and 01u01i00without02i02u00 the "s."02br
02br
00I think, for example, in your story of the river and the tanker, the contents "are" a certain quantity of hazardous liquid (almost idiomatic). The content, if anything, is #2 diesel. It seems like once we start talking about containers, (eg, stomachs) the "countable-uncountable" distinction breaks down. "He drank the contents of the glass." "The wine in the glass had a strong acid content (component)."02br
02br
00Also, regarding your "s" examples in your last post, I think you could generalize and say that content (without the "s") is usually not specific (as the contents of a letter would be).02br
02br
00Sometimes after discussions like this I console myself by thumbing through the dictionary and observing how many words have seven or eight "conflicting" definitions listed.0-

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