163 Puzzling Plurals C HAPTER 7 Puzzling Plurals 163 We do a good job using the correct singular and plural forms of most nouns, because the process isn’t tricky; you just add an “s” or an “es” or an “ies” to make the plural form. But a few words that come to us from Latin and Greek don’t follow the normal pattern. As a result, their singular and plural forms are often confused or unknown. 76. Media Don’t Say: The media is protected by the first amendment. Say Instead: The media are protected by the first amendment. Here’s Why: It hardly seems fair that a dead language causes trouble for us in English. “Media” is plural, of Latin origin, referring to a group of vehicles through which ideas are communicated. The singular form is “medium.” So in the ex- ample sentence, when we use the plural form “media,” we need to follow it up with the plural verb “are” instead of the p Bad Grammar Ch 07.pmd 3/17/2004, 9:46 AM163 164 When Bad Grammar Happens to Good People singular one, “is.” There is one case in which many usage ex- perts are comfortable treating “media” as singular, and that is when the group of vehicles is being referred to as a collective, as in The media has become an institution just like the gov- ernment. However, you can avoid having to figure out whether a singular sense is acceptable or not simply by treating “media” as plural in every case—then you’ll always be correct. Con- versely, when you’re referring to just one of the vehicles through which communication happens, remember to use the singular form, “medium.” Here are some correct examples of each: His preferred medium has been newspapers, but I hear he’s interested in television now. His preferred media have been newspapers and magazines. The media work overtime when there’s a big story. The artist’s medium was pen and ink. The artist works in mixed media. There has been a trend lately toward making a plural out of the word “medium” by simply adding an “s” to get “mediums.” One sees this in print from a range of sources, some downright respectable. For example, you might read, He used several mediums to reach his audience. However, this is a recent trend, and most well-spoken folks have been carefully edu- cated that “media” is the plural of “medium.” So you would be better off sticking to that traditional distinction if you want to be sure that your listeners or readers know you know what’s right. 77. Data Don’t Say: The data shows our plans have failed. Say Instead: The data show our plans have failed. Here’s Why: “Data” and “datum” work just like “media” and “medium.” The “a” ending is plural; the “um” ending is singular. The only difference between the two examples may p Bad Grammar Ch 07.pmd 3/17/2004, 9:46 AM164 165 Puzzling Plurals be this: The use of “data” as a singular goes down a little easier with usage experts than the use of “media” as a singular. And that’s because facts often seem to travel in packs—so scientists and researchers typically think of data as a collective term. The bottom line is this: You’ll always be correct if you treat data as a plural. But when your meaning is focused more on the string of facts taken together as a group, using “data” with a singular verb won’t get you thrown in jail. It’s a judgment call. Here are addi- tional correct examples of the plural sense of “data”: The data are inconclusive, so we’ll need another study. The data indicate that Ellen’s hypothesis was right. The new data make the previous research obsolete. 78. Alumni Don’t Say: Jim and Judy are both Michigan alumnis. Say Instead: Jim and Judy are both Michigan alumni. Here’s Why: Another term from Latin: This one has sev- eral forms you should know. One male graduate is an “alum- nus.” Two or more male graduates are “alumni,” pronounced with a long “i,” and never, ever, with an “s” at the end, as in the incorrect example. Two or more graduates of different sexes are also called “alumni,” as in our corrected example. One female graduate is called an “alumna,” and two female gradu- ates are referred to as “alumnae,” spelled with an “ae” at the end, but rhyming with “knee.” An example of each are: Geraldine is an alumna of Grinnell College. Lucy and Beth are Sarah Lawrence alumnae. Don is an alumnus of Lincoln High. Joe and Fred are alumni but they don’t donate money to the school. Stacy and John are both alumni, but she’s the only one going to the reunion. p Bad Grammar Ch 07.pmd 3/17/2004, 9:46 AM165 166 When Bad Grammar Happens to Good People 79. Criteria Don’t Say: Sense of humor was her only criteria in choos- ing a man. Say Instead: Sense of humor was her only criterion in choosing a man. Here’s Why: “Criteria” is the plural of “criterion,” a word of Greek origin that means “standard” or “measure.” In this sentence, the woman has only one measure by which she judges men acceptable or not, so we should use the singular “crite- rion,” and wish her the best of luck. Separately, remember to use a plural verb whenever “criteria” is your subject. For ex- ample, it’s the criteria are and not the criteria is. Additional correct examples are: The snooty club’s board of directors established a list of 60 criteria for membership. He’s such a simple man that his criterion for happi- ness is having enough ice for his soda. Julie asked what the opera company’s criteria were for screening chorus members. Is looking good in red really a fair criterion for this job? 80. Phenomena Don’t Say: Incredible phenomenons happen all around us every day if you know where to look. Say Instead: Incredible phenomena happen all around us every day if you know where to look. Here’s Why: “Phenomenon,” which also comes to us from Greek, means an event that is observed through the senses rather than by thought. The plural form is “phenomena” not “phenomenons.” p Bad Grammar Ch 07.pmd 3/17/2004, 9:46 AM166 167 Puzzling Plurals 81. Memoranda Don’t Say: I typed memorandums today until my fingers cramped up. Say Instead: I typed memoranda today until my fingers cramped up. Here’s Why: Okay, so you probably don’t use the full word every day; you just say “memo” or “memos” instead. And that’s fine. But when you do use the full word, remember that the plural form of “memorandum” is not “memorandums,” it’s “memoranda.” Test: Puzzling Plurals Please circle the correct choice. 1. The mayor responded to the charges by complaining that the media (was, were) ganging up on her. 2. Our consumer preference data (reveal, reveals) that al- most no one would buy a cereal called “Mothball Crunch.” 3. Buffy and Babs, who are (alumnis, alumni, alumnae, al- ums) of a fine finishing school, have joined a motorcycle gang. 4. Yes, Donald and Ivana are (alumnis, alumni, alumnae, alums), but they’ve never given the school a dime. 5. To get insurance from that company you must meet two simple (criterion, criterions, criteria): you can’t have an ac- cident on your record, and you must promise never to have one. 6. The algebra teacher’s only (criterion, criterions, criteria) for giving an A was perfect punctuation. 7. Toby came to work on time today for the first time ever; do you know the reason for this extraordinary (phenomenon, phenomenons, phenomena)? p Bad Grammar Ch 07.pmd 3/17/2004, 9:46 AM167 168 When Bad Grammar Happens to Good People 8. Frogs have been falling from the sky and the sun has been rising in the west, but the scientists can’t explain these un- usual (phenomenon, phenomenons, phenomena). 9. Bill sends her several irate (memorandum, memoranda) each week on her habit of using his coffee mug as a planter. Answer Key: Puzzling Plurals 1. were. (Plural) 2. reveal. (Plural) 3. More conservative speakers would use “alumnae” to refer to two female graduates; some less conservative speakers prefer “alums” as a gender-neutral plural. 4. More conservative speakers would use “alumni” here to refer to two graduates of different genders; some less con- servative speakers prefer “alums” as a gender-neutral plural. 5. criteria. (Plural) 6. criterion. (Singular) 7. phenomenon. (Singular) 8. phenomena. (Plural) 9. memoranda. (Plural; “memos” is almost always also ap- propriate here for all but the most conservative speakers.) p Bad Grammar Ch 07.pmd 3/17/2004, 9:46 AM168 . 163 Puzzling Plurals C HAPTER 7 Puzzling Plurals 163 We do a good job using the correct singular and. the two examples may p Bad Grammar Ch 07.pmd 3/17/2004, 9:46 AM164 165 Puzzling Plurals be this: The use of “data” as a singular goes down a little easier