Media has or Media have?

Question

The media [has/have] become more responsible nowadays.

Please help me, its very confusing. What does media take has or have? Is it treated as a plural noun, but I believe it should take singular verb as it is a collective noun. Please help.

Thanks in advance.

Mister Micawber · Accepted Answer

anshhWhat does media take has or have?

It is used both ways, with great argument offered for both sides. Use either and someone will complain.

Anshh · Answer

Oh.... But then what would be more appropriate in my sentence? Thanks for the speedy reply.

Mister Micawber · Answer

anshhBut then what would be more appropriate in my sentence?

Personally, I'd use 'have'.

anshhThanks for the speedy reply.

There's no point in that—we are not a supplier. We come and go as we please.

Anshh · Answer

Mister Micawber Personally, I'd use 'have'.

Okay, thank you so much.

Mister Micawber There's no point in that—we are not a supplier. We come and go as we please.

LOL...Anyway...thanks a ton.

Sandy sandyjr · Answer

The media has become more responsible nowadays. .......Explanation - "The media" is singular so there should be has.

Fivejedjon · Answer

sandy sandyjrThe media has become more responsible nowadays. .......Explanation - "The media" is singular so there should be has.

No. Technically, medium is singular and media is plural.

Read Mr M's response.

Sandy sandyjr · Answer

fivejedjonNo. Technically, medium is singular and media is plural.

Yes sir, "Technically" you are right, but we have question that whether we should use "has" or "have"

My further explanation is: - Though Media is plural form of medium, it is a collective noun. Oxford Dictionary also confirms that in following words
"In practice, in the sense ‘television, radio, the press, and the Internet, collectively,’ media behaves as a collective noun (like staff or clergy, for example), which means that it is now acceptable in standard English for it to take either a singular or a plural verb."

Now the question arises when we should use it as plural and when we should use it as singular.

The answer is whenever we are using the word "Media" as a whole unite we should use it as singular and when we are using the same word considered as lots of individuals then it should use as plural.It depends on context and sense of sentence. And considering the context and sense of sentence I said that Media is singular.

For example :
The jury agrees that the state prosecutors did not provide enough evidence, so its verdict is not guilty. (Considered as one Unit)
The jury disagree about the guilt of the accused and have told the judge that they are hopelessly deadlocked. (Considered as lot of individuals)

In the same way
The media has become more responsible nowadays. (Considered as one unit)

Mister Micawber · Answer

sandy sandyjrNow the question arises when we should use it as plural and when we should use it as singular.

Oxford has already answered that question for you:

sandy sandyjrit is now acceptable in standard English for it to take either a singular or a plural verb

Sandy sandyjr · Answer

Yes sir, you are right

Mister MicawberOxford has already answered that question for you:

And not only for me but for all. But it is the half answer. Correct interpretation of "it is now acceptable in standard English for it to take either a singular or a plural verb", is it depends on context and sense of sentence that when to use it as singular and when to use it as plural.

And as I earlier said that when we are using the word as one unit we should use it as singular and when we are using it as lot of individuals we should use it as plural.

Oxford also says that the word "Media" is singular and the word "Medias" is now used as plural.

"The word is also increasingly used in the plural form medias, as if it had a conventional singular form media," ........... there were great efforts made by the medias of the involved countries about 600 works in all genres and medias were submitted for review."

So in the light of above paragraph and in the light of current context and sense of sentence "Media" is singular and what I answered in the first place "The media has become more responsible nowadays", is correct.

"Media", may be used as plural but context and sense has to be different.

Anshh · Answer

I totally agree to the fact that media can take both 'has' or 'have' but it depends on the context. But what according to the sentence is correct? Or rather, more appropriate?

The media has become more responsible nowadays.

OR

The media have become more responsible nowadays.

Thanks for your help.

Media has or Media have?

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