False Singulars
Some nouns, because they end in a “plural” form, are mistakenly taken to be plurals even though they should be treated as singular and take a singular verb (eg, measles, mumps, mathematics, genetics).
Measles is a deadly disease in underdeveloped countries.
A few nouns are usually used in the plural form; however, the distinction between plural and singular should be retained where appropriate. (See also 7.8.3, Grammar, Subject-Verb Agreement, False Plurals.)
Plural |
Singular |
|---|---|
data |
datum |
criteria |
criterion |
media |
medium [for a specific type: Television is a good medium for disseminating important health news.] |
phenomena |
phenomenon |