Gossip and rumor

Posted by R. Berg on August 08, 2001

In Reply to: Gossip and rumor posted by Tom on August 08, 2001

: Hi!

: My dictionary says that words 'gossip' and 'rumor' are basically uncountable nouns. However these words are used as countable nouns sometimes.

: I think all of the following sentences are correct. Do you agree with it?

: There is gossip that they may get divorced.
: There is a gossip that they may get divorced.
: There is rumor that they may get divorced.
: There is a rumor that they may get divorced.

: Thank you very much for your opinion.

: All the best,

: Tom

: Hi!

: My dictionary says that words 'gossip' and 'rumor' are basically uncountable nouns. However these words are used as countable nouns sometimes.

: I think all of the following sentences are correct. Do you agree with it?

: There is gossip that they may get divorced.
: There is a gossip that they may get divorced.
: There is rumor that they may get divorced.
: There is a rumor that they may get divorced.

: Thank you very much for your opinion.

: All the best,

: Tom

: Hi!

: My dictionary says that words 'gossip' and 'rumor' are basically uncountable nouns. However these words are used as countable nouns sometimes.

: I think all of the following sentences are correct. Do you agree with it?

: There is gossip that they may get divorced.
: There is a gossip that they may get divorced.
: There is rumor that they may get divorced.
: There is a rumor that they may get divorced.

: Thank you very much for your opinion.

: All the best,

: Tom

"There is gossip that they may get divorced" and "There is a rumor that they may get divorced" sound natural to me (an American English speaker). "There is rumor that . . ." sounds correct but less natural. "There is a gossip that . . ." sounds wrong. In current usage, "rumor" can be either countable or uncountable. "Gossip" is always uncountable.

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