Blue Sow wrote:
> There seems to be a change of usage in progress whereby 'goods' is
> being replaced by 'good'.
>
> SOED p. 1125 gives:
> 3 (property and possessions) Now only in pl.
> 4 In pl. (commodities etc).
>
> The use of 'now only' in definition 3 suggests earlier use of the
> singular?
> The following is from BBC News:
> "As such, healthcare in Britain is considered a social right rather
> than a consumer good or something to be 'earned'."
>
> In this instance, and in several others heard in recent times, the
> singular 'good' is used.
>
> Does anyone have any ideas on why this may be happening?
> I have checked with the OED on-line and even the draft additions for
> 2007 do not suggest using the singular in this way.
While I don't like 'good' it is sure that if there is a plural there is
a singular, so good is acceptable? genrally though, as you've seen, it
is 'goods' and one adjust the rest of the phrase to suit rather than
using 'good'. If I needed the singular I would use another word,
product, material etc.
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