MLP: Loath to admit loathing

Lest it be said that Mrs. Language Person's language is without flaw, this column opens with identified error. She loathes mistakes in grammar, but never is she loath to admit her own.

Catch that, dear reader? In the last edition MLP wrote, "(T)he verb is where the action is, loathe to give up its power." As a kind reader so politely noted, the "e" does not belong. Writers' eyes grow tired, brains unreliable, and one should never, never rely solely on Spellcheck.

Loath (adjective) and loathe (verb) are not interchangeable. "Loath" derives from the Old English, "lao," which meant hostile or repulsive. Its most frequent modern use is to express reluctance, "to be loath to (do something, e.g., admit)." The verb loathe derives from Old English "laoian," meaning hate. Mea culpa.

Speaking of Latin (mea culpa, "my mistake"), that oh-so-venerable mother of linguistic prowess, a little peeve (likely Middle English "peivish" derived from Latin "perversus," meaning awkward or askew) of mine (isn't that redundant - of and mine?) is the shift in subject-verb agreement using certain Latin and English plural words. Consider the obvious as you read this column: media.

In America we say, "the media is." Why? Media is the plural of the word "medium," or Latin, "medius." This newspaper is only one medium (of communication) among various types and examples of media (broadcast, print, Web). The Press can't be "the media" all by itself; that's a plurality. So why don't we say, "the media are?"

Were we in England, we would. Geography aside, grammar dictates we should. Repeated misuse in subject-verb agreement should not make the incorrect, correct. And yet it has. MLP laments.

The same debate applies to other plural words. In general the rule is and the rules are. The rules can't be "is." So why do we (again, generally here and less so in English's country of origin) say "the group has" and not, "the group have?" If a group contains 12, we say correctly, "a dozen are." We never say, "a dozen is." So why when we substitute group for the dozen, do we say "group is?"

Yes, this has become acceptable English at least in this country. Sigh. Why we changed it, MLP can not explain; both "dozen" and "group" are considered a whole unit composed of individual bits, so why should the subject-verb agreement thus vary? None ("not one," singular noun) has (singular verb) yet offered MLP a rational explanation for this. MLP laments, and outside of this edited column, will continue to use "are" with group and media no matter how many scrunched-up faces this elicits.

Neither one argument nor the other will satisfy MLP. Either one day or another she must accept this corrosion of subject-verb agreement. Neither goes with nor, either goes with or, but neither does either match or. Duly noted? Keep the two which (not "that") begin with "n" together (neither, nor) and marry the two beginning with vowels (either, or).

Which brings MLP to her second of today's apologies. In her last column she promised to next address "which" and "that." Sadly her column-inches have come to an end, her preceding laments too lengthy to continue. Another imperfection in MLP: brevity sometimes eludes.

Next time: which vs. that and that without apology.

Sholeh Patrick is a columnist for the Hagadone News Network. Contact her at sholehjo@hotmail.com.