Have you ever stopped to wonder why news is a singular noun? After all, it’s a word that often refers to more than one thing happening. It’s more than a little surprising when you learn that it counts as a singular noun, considering its common usage. So why is news singular? Let’s explore the different reasons why news is singular.
News is Not a Collection of Events
When you hear the word news, you might think of it as a collection of events or stories. You may think of news as the collective noun for a group of newsworthy events or stories. But, linguistically, news is not a collection of stories.
The etymology of the word news is rooted in being “a report of interesting or new information.” News does not refer to the group of stories themselves, but it refers to the idea of a new story. In other words, news is a singular concept that encompasses the idea of new information or events. Therefore, it should be treated as a singular noun.
People Can Receive News
Another factor to consider is that people can get news. We don’t just hear about a lot of news stories; we can receive news. We can be told a new story or read a new article, and that experience is often considered to be getting news.
This implies that news is something that one person can receive and handle. As a result, it should be treated as a singular noun. After all, you wouldn’t say that you received “newses” – you would say that you received news, because it’s treated as a singular noun.
News Is Often a Collective Term
It is worth noting that news is often a collective term. People often use the term news to refer to multiple news stories or events that are happening in the world. The usage of news as a collective noun is actually quite common. This can be confusing, since we tend to think of collective nouns as plural words, but news is still considered a singular noun.
The reason why news is both singular and collective is because it’s a singular concept that can encompass multiple individual events or stories. When we refer to news, we are referring to the idea of new information, not necessarily the individual stories themselves. So, even when we use the term news to refer to multiple stories or events, we still consider it singular.
The News Refers to a Single Source
Lastly, the news can often refer to a single source. We often hear people refer to the news as if it’s coming from a single source. This implies that news is treated as a singular concept, as if it’s coming from a single entity. Although there may be multiple sources of news, when people refer to the news, they are often referring to a single source.
This single source is often the most reliable source of news, which implies that the concept of news should be treated as a singular entity. Furthermore, when people talk about the news, they are often referring to the reporting of news stories, and again, that should be treated as a singular concept.
Conclusion
The term news is an interesting one, because it often refers to multiple events or stories but is still considered a singular noun. There are several factors that help explain why news is singular. First, news is not a collection of stories; it refers to the idea of new information. Second, people can receive news, making it a singular concept. Third, news is often used as a collective noun, and finally, the news often refers to a single source.
Understanding why news is a singular noun is important for accurate language usage. Although it may be a surprise that news is a singular noun, it makes sense when you consider all the factors at play. Knowing when to use news as a singular word can help you to communicate more accurately and effectively.
Also Read: 5 Tips for Writing Compelling News Stories
