许多同学为便于记忆，学将 newspaper 分解为 news（消息）和 paper（纸）——也就是说，把“消息”印在“纸”上就成了“报纸”。由于news（消息）和 paper（纸）均为不可数名词，所以许多同学就想当然地认为 newspaper（报纸）也是一个不可数名词，但是，错了！当我们把 newspaper 当作一种供阅读或传递信息的东西时，它是可数的——可以连用不定冠词，也可以使用复数形式。如：
Newspapers littered the floor. 报纸扔了一地。
Newspapers are a medium for advertising. 报纸是广告的媒介。
He often writes articles for newspapers. 他常为报社写文章。
They read heaps of newspapers. 他们阅读了大量的报纸。
The newspapers are full of depressing news. 报纸充满令人抑郁的消息。
I’ve got so little time; I hardly ever read newspapers. 我时间很紧，不怎么看报。
Our company advertises on television and in newspapers. 我们的公司在电视和报纸上做广告。
His mother learned of her son’s success in the newspapers. 他母亲从报纸上得知她儿子成功的消息。
但是，假若将其仅仅当作一种“纸”来看待，则可以是不可数的。如：
He wrapped the present in newspaper. 他把礼物用报纸包起来。
