"1 in 3 children in the United States ARE/IS overweight and obese." Which is correct?
Hi, I'm having an argument with a friend of mine on a sentence and choosing between "are" or "is."
The statement is, "1 in 3 children in the United States is overweight and obese."
I think it should say "ARE overweight and obese," since "1 in 3 children" are still millions of children, making it plural.
Thank you so much for your time!
Top answer
Both are used. I read somewhere that the New York Times favors the singular. One argument for the singular is that "One in three children" is " One child in three children", and it's "One child ...
- Both are used.
- I read somewhere that the New York Times favors the singular.
- One argument for the singular is that "One in three children" is " One child in three children", and it's "One child ...
- is overweight and obese", no matter what modifiers are used with it.
- CJ
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Both are used. I read somewhere that the New York Times favors the singular.
One argument for the singular is that "One in three children" is "One child in three children", and it's "One child ... is overweight and obese", no matter what modifiers are used with it.
CJ
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