Sport or sports?

Question

Hi, which of the following is correct?A.  Baseball is a kind of sport.orB. Baseball is a kind of sports.thanks a lot!

SunnyShiny · Accepted Answer

the A is correct.
basketbal is a kind of sport

Andriy Lapin · Answer

Dear friend,

the word sports is usually used in front of a noun, eg a sports centre, sports equipment, sports injuries, etc.

You can express your idea either as

Baseball is a kind of sport,

where sport is uncountable,or

Baseball is a sport,

in which a sport means 'a particular type of sport'.

Respectfully, Gleb Chebrikoff

Anonymous · Answer

The use of one or the other is regional.

In the US, sport is used for a single distinct sporting activity, while sports refers to general sporting activities.

My favorite sport is baseball.
I really like sports.

In British English (and apparently places with direct British influence on the language) sport is used for general sporting activities. For instance, a British newspaper has a Sport section, while US newspapers have a Sports section. Note the difference in the sections menu at http://www.guardiannews.com/ when you change between the US and UK editions (top left).

In the US, sports is more commonly used as the adjective:

sports event, sports facility, sports medicine, sports team (even though the team only plays one sport)

Apparently the British phrase these with sport instead of sports.

An American distinction:

We had a night of sport.

would be used for a night of cutting up, fooling around, having a good time, possibly involving pranks, while

We had a night of sports.

would be used for a night of playing or watching or talking about sporting games.

So, to answer the question, in the US most would say

Baseball is a kind of sports.

even though this construction typically uses a singular noun:

A crow is a kind of bird.
Maple is a kind of tree.

But like

Dancing is a type of performing arts.
The study of grammar is a kind of academics.

we tend to use such terms as contractions for a type of performing arts [activity] - or - a kind of academics [topic] where the plural used for the adjective becomes the collective noun. Though no one would consider a type of performing art incorrect, like another poster said, it just doesn't sound right to some.

Anonymous · Answer

Tell me, please:
Combat sport or combat sports?
Billiard sport or billiard sports?

Anonymous · Answer

Great stuff, thanks!

Anonymous · Answer

'Most in the U.S. would say, "Baseball is a kind of sports."'

Actually, we wouldn't say that. We'd say, 'baseball is a kind of sport.' Or, actually, we'd probably say, 'baseball is a type of sport.'

Clive · Answer

More likely in my opinion is just Baseball is a sport.

Clive

Anonymous · Answer

American here. I'd just say: "Baseball is a sport." Sport singular, sports plural.

Anonymous · Answer

Baseball is a kind of sport

Desk cobra · Answer

We are manufacturer of all type of sports wear

Sport or sports?

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