Is "M$M" singular or plural?

[redqueen]

Is it:

"The M$M are" or "the M$M is"?

What they are is extremely effective in shaping public opinion... I was reminded of this when considering how long the media's been so slanted against liberals. That it's gone on this long and it's still not common knowlege... that shows how effective... they are? it is?

I think it's plural. They are. Yeah.

[racaulk]

1. It's plural.

The last word of M$M, media, is plural for medium.

"That shows how effective they are."

So, you're right. :hi:

[redqueen]

2. Thanks!

That's what made me think I was right... but with those weird plurals like media and criteria... I'm always second-guessing myself.

[DarkTirade]

3. I'd say singular actually

We're talking about a group, not referring to the individual companies in that group. It's like the difference between saying 'The democrats are' vs. 'The democratic party is'. "The mass media is" vs. "The media corporations are".

[redqueen]

4. That's another reason I was confused...

But that's more stylistic than anything else. Usually it's left up to the person writing to decide which 'sounds' better.

Do you say the 49rs is crap? Or the 49ers ARE crap?

Do you say the Miami Heat are crap? Or the Miami Heat is crap?

See?

[Deep13]

5. Depends ...

... does M$M = main stream media or medium? Media is plural.

[redqueen]

6. Media...

which is why I went with plural in the post I made in GDP... but I still had to come here and advertise my lack of conviction. :P

[Deja Q]

7. M$F is the call sign of a john...

:hide:

[CGowen]

8. They are even depicted as multiple octopuses, not as one

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LGEdDd5zsHo

[redqueen]

9. I want it to be octopi!

x(

[CGowen]

10. That reminds me of Latin, although it's not, but I hated that language anyway n/t

[Gormy Cuss]

12. They should be called octopodes.

Octopus looks like it comes from Latin roots (which would mean that the plural form would be octopi or octopus) but the roots are Greek.

Here ends today's Schoolhouse Rock trivia. ;)

[redqueen]

13. Sexeh.

:D

[Oeditpus Rex]

11. The Associated Press Stylebook (2004) sez...

media in the sense of mass communication, such as magazines, newspapers, the news services, radio and television, the word is plural: The news media are resisting attempts to limit their freedom.

So, it must be singular, since the AP is part of the MSM, and the MSM is always wrong. :P

[redqueen]

14. hahahhahah

:P

No, they just decorate their lies with truths... makes it seem oh-so-innocent... they surely never mean to distort or misinform!

Heavens, no!

Why, the very idea!

:rofl: