Dear Editor,
There seems to be some confusion over the use of the words “sport” and “sports”, but I feel that if we follow the rules of English grammar we can solve the problem easily.
Firstly, the word “sport” refers to a single “game” e.g. cricket, football, tennis, etc, or it can also refer to an activity of “fun” e.g. a dance, or a night out at a disco, etc. In any case, it denotes a single activity. According to the rules of English grammar, when you add an “s” to a word you make it refer to more than one of the particular thing or person referred to, e.g. boy (one); boys (more than one).
Secondly, all reports of games or fun activities refer to many or more than one of these operations or goings on. Therefore, such reports ought to be referred to as “sports news.” Beside, an athletic event staged by any institution is never referred to as ‘athletic sport’ for the simple reason that it involves several activities, each of which is one “sport” or “race” e.g. 100 metres, 200 metres, and 400 metres. Thus one such event is referred to as “athletic sports”.
I find that even the BBC television confuses itself by using the words “sport” and “sports” as interchangeable. Let us not, however, fall into this trap. Let’s just emulate the Sports Max motto “No games – just sports”.
Yours faithfully,
George Moore
