News: Countable or Uncountable? | Mastering Grammar

(Last Updated: 19 September 2024)

Is News Countable or Uncountable?

Although news ends with an -s, it is an uncountable noun. Therefore, it is not used in the plural, and it does not take the indefinite article a:

✅ The good news is that we can now leave work on time.
❌ The good news are that we can now leave work on time.

✅ That news was shocking!
❌ Those news were shocking!

✅ We've been seeing a lot of fake news lately.
❌ We've been seeing many fake news lately.

✅ That's very good news!
❌ That's a very good news!

✅ There are two pieces of news that we want to share with you.
❌ There are two news that we want to share with you.

If you need to talk about a single item of news, you can say a piece of news, some news, or news on its own:

✅ What was the most frequently cited piece of news last year?

✅ We've got some news that will cheer you up.

✅ I was on my way to work when I heard news of the passing of the Queen.

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Examples from the Media

The Erie County SPCA of West Seneca, New York, announced that every single dog at its West Seneca shelter has been adopted, probably because there's no time like the present to find a good walking companion. This news is in keeping with a general uptick in pet adoption, notably in England. —Toronto Star (2020)

There is good news too regarding rising prices. The Government is regularly skewered by its critics for having a higher inflation rate than most of its competitors. But here again Britain is bucking the trend. —Daily Mail (2022)

Like many people, Aaron Hawkins heard news of the death of the Queen yesterday morning. —Otago Daily Times (2022)

Late last year the owner of Glenworth Valley Horseriding, Barton Lawler, got some news that he once would have laughed off—he was being sued by a visitor who fell off a horse and fractured his right ring finger. —The Sydney Morning Herald (2002)

Each piece of news demands new questions. —The Washington Post (2017)

Real-World Examples of Misuse

1. Alternatively, you could say I have some bad news. Using got to mean 'have' is a feature of casual, spoken American English.
2. Do not say a bad news. News is uncountable.
3. Using for in this sentence is more idiomatic-sounding.
(Image Source: St. Paul's Primary Catholic School)
(Also by the Same School: 1/2)

Do not say a good news. News is an uncountable noun, so it should not be preceded by a.

1. News is an uncountable noun and does not take the indefinite article a alone.
2. A comma should be added to set off the non-defining relative clause which hit Taiwan two days ago, providing extra information about Typhoon Mary.
3. Hit and strike are terms commonly used to describe the impact of natural disasters like typhoons and earthquakes. The past tense forms are hit and struck, respectively. The word attack is inappropriate because it implies intent, which typhoons do not possess.
4. The statement Roads, schools and shops were closed for a few days introduces a potential inconsistency with the earlier statement that Typhoon Mary hit Taiwan two days ago. This suggests that the closures have already spanned several days, conflicting with the recent impact of the typhoon. If the closures are still in effect, a clearer statement would be Roads, schools, and shops were closed and remain so.
5. The definite article the can be removed for a more general reference when specific shelters were not previously mentioned.
6. When using pour down in conjunction with the adverb heavily to describe intense rainfall, it is more natural to say pour down heavily rather than pour heavily down. Additionally, some might consider using heavily with pour down redundant, as pour down already implies heavy rainfall.
(Source: St. Joseph's Primary School)
(Also by the Same School: 1/2/3/4/5/6)