News have or has

A common question!

The answer depends on the context and the subject-verb agreement rules.

News is a plural noun, and when referring to news in general, we use the plural form of the verb.

Correct usage:

• The news have been spreading quickly. (Here, "news" is a plural noun, and "have" is the correct verb form to agree with it.)
• The news has been delayed. (Here, "news" is a singular noun, and "has" is the correct verb form to agree with it.)

When to use "have":

• When referring to multiple pieces of news: "The news have been spreading quickly."
• When referring to news in general, as a plural noun: "The news have been a topic of discussion."

When to use "has":

• When referring to a single piece of news: "The news has been delayed."
• When referring to news as a singular entity, such as a news organization or a news channel: "The news has been criticized for its biased reporting."

Remember, the key is to identify the subject of the sentence and use the verb form that agrees with it.