The word "spam" is ubiquitous in the digital age, primarily associated with unsolicited electronic messages. Most of us intuitively understand what it means when we refer to "spam email" or "a spam filter". However, a subtle grammatical question often arises: Is "spam" a countable or an uncountable noun?
While native English speakers almost universally treat "spam" as a mass noun (uncountable) when referring to unsolicited messages, it's not uncommon to encounter instances where it's pluralized, for example, as "spams." This usage often appears in non-native English contexts, leading to confusion about its correct grammatical form.
For email deliverability professionals, clarity in language is paramount. Understanding the accepted grammatical use of "spam" can help ensure precise communication, whether discussing filter rules, blocklists (or blacklists), or reporting tools. This article clarifies the noun status of "spam" in the context of email.
What are countable and uncountable nouns?
To properly address whether "spam" is countable or uncountable, it helps to revisit the definitions of these noun categories.
Countable nouns, sometimes called count nouns, refer to individual items that can be counted. They have both singular and plural forms, and you can use numbers or quantifiers like "many" or "few" with them. For example, you can have one email, two emails, or many messages. "Spammer" is a good example of a countable noun.
Uncountable nouns, or mass nouns, refer to things that cannot be counted individually. These often represent concepts, substances, or collections of items that are considered a whole. They typically do not have a plural form and are used with quantifiers like "much" or "a lot of." Examples include information, water, or advice. When referring to email, "email traffic" or "content" are usually uncountable.
'Spam' as a mass noun
In the context of email, "spam" is predominantly used as an uncountable noun. It refers to the general category of unsolicited, bulk, or unwanted electronic messages. When you say "I received a lot of spam today," you are referring to a quantity or mass of unwanted messages, not individual, discrete units that can be counted like "one spam" or "two spams."
This usage is consistent with how many authoritative dictionaries define the term in its internet context. For example, both Britannica Dictionary and Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English classify "spam" (in the email sense) as an uncountable noun.
Best practice for professionals
When discussing email deliverability, adhere to the uncountable usage of "spam" to maintain clarity and professionalism. This aligns with how email service providers and anti-spam systems generally define and categorize unwanted mail. Referencing "a piece of spam" or "an instance of spam" can clarify individual items, but the general term remains uncountable.
When 'spam' can be countable (and 'spams' appears)
While primarily uncountable, English nouns can sometimes exhibit flexibility based on context. "Spam" is occasionally used in a countable sense, particularly when referring to a specific type or instance of unsolicited communication, or in very informal contexts. For example, one might say "I got a really nasty spam today" referring to a single, particularly bothersome message, or distinguish between different categories like "phishing spams" and "advertisement spams." The word can also be used as a verb, as in "Don't spam my inbox."
The pluralization "spams" is more commonly observed among non-native English speakers or in technical documentation translated from other languages, where the equivalent term might be countable. This usage, while understandable, deviates from standard English usage in the email deliverability space and can lead to misunderstandings or sound ungrammatical to native speakers.
Standard English usage (uncountable)
General concept: Refers to unwanted bulk electronic messages as a collective, undifferentiated mass. Used with quantifiers like 'much' or 'a lot of'.
No plural form: You wouldn't typically say 'spams' in standard English when referring to email.
Examples
I get too much spam in my inbox. They're struggling to reduce the amount of spam they receive.
Less common/specific usage (countable)
Specific instances: Used when referring to individual items, types of spam, or in informal speech. Can be pluralized as 'spams'.
Non-native influence: More common in regions where English is a second language, or in translations.
Examples
That was one annoying spam. (Referring to a single email). The system detected multiple phishing spams. (Less common, but seen).
Why this matters for email professionals
For anyone involved in email deliverability, the subtle grammatical distinction of "spam" can affect how effectively you communicate and interpret data. Anti-spam systems, email service providers, and industry discussions almost always treat "spam" as an uncountable mass.
When you check your spam rate in a postmaster tool, it refers to the percentage of your mail that recipients marked as unwanted, or that automatically landed in the junk folder. This is a collective measure of "spam," not a count of individual "spams." Similarly, being listed on an email blocklist (or blacklist) means your IP or domain is flagged for sending a volume of unwanted mail, not a specific number of discrete "spams."
Example of spam filter reportText
X-Spam-Status: Yes, score=5.0
X-Spam-Report: * 1.0 FROM_ILLEGAL_CHARS From: contains illegal characters (e.g. \r). * 4.0 RCVD_IN_BL_SPAMCOP_NET RBL: Received via a relay in SpamCop's blacklist. * 0.0 HTML_MESSAGE BODY: HTML and text parts of message are different. * 0.0 SPF_PASS SPF: sender SPF record passed. * 0.0 DKIM_SIGNED Message has a DKIM signature, not necessarily valid. * 0.0 T_SCC_BODY_TEXT_LINE No-Action, so
Views from the trenches
Best practices
Always use 'spam' as an uncountable noun in formal or technical email deliverability discussions. This ensures consistency and avoids misinterpretation, especially with global teams.
Explain that 'spam' refers to the overall volume or collective nature of unwanted emails, rather than individual messages.
Use qualifying phrases like 'a piece of spam' or 'an instance of spam' if you need to refer to a single unsolicited email without pluralizing the noun.
Common pitfalls
Pluralizing 'spam' as 'spams': This is grammatically incorrect in standard English when referring to bulk email, often causing confusion.
Assuming 'spam' is always countable due to its verb form: While 'to spam' is a verb, the noun form for unsolicited mail is typically uncountable.
Using 'spam' interchangeably with 'spammer': 'Spammer' is countable, referring to the person or entity sending spam, whereas 'spam' is the content itself.
Expert tips
In a French or German context, 'spams' might be acceptable due to linguistic differences, but in English, 'spam' remains singular.
Think of 'spam' like 'traffic' or 'information'—you wouldn't say 'traffics' or 'informations' when referring to the general concept.
When dealing with email security, precise terminology helps everyone understand the nature of the threat or problem.
Marketer view
Marketer from Email Geeks says they consistently use 'spam' in the singular, often paired with other words like 'spam email' or 'spam messages' for clarity.
2023-05-01 - Email Geeks
Expert view
Expert from Email Geeks says the plural 'spams' should be avoided, especially in English, as it's not standard usage in the email industry.
2023-05-01 - Email Geeks
Navigating the nuances of 'spam'
While the English language can be flexible, particularly with evolving digital terminology, in the realm of email communication, "spam" is overwhelmingly an uncountable noun. It refers to the collective phenomenon of unwanted messages, similar to how we use words like "information" or "advice." Adopting this consistent usage ensures clear communication within the email deliverability community and helps in accurately understanding and addressing deliverability challenges. For more insights on how to keep your emails out of the junk folder, explore our guides on why emails go to spam and how to improve deliverability.
