When referring to literature in the sense of academic literature or philosophical literature I have sometimes heard people use the noun as if it were similar to the word 'people.' For example: 'The literature have confirmed this hypothesis.' I have also heard people use the noun as if it were singular (e.g. 'The literature has confirmed this hypothesis.'
Is there one usage that is more acceptable/correct in formal writing?
Literature is typically used to describe a collective body of writings; as such, it takes a singular verb despite the fact it refers to many works. The word is almost always preceded by an adjective or attributive noun to identify a specific body of works:
English literature
scientific literature
product literature (archaic)
Literature also connotes writings of higher quality within the category and can be used in a plural form, literatures, but is rarely called for.
Of all the Asian literatures, Asian poetry attracts me most.
