A minimum of something

Hi,

Please help me on the following questions:

A minimum of 2 persons are required or is required. is

zero degrees celsius or zero degree celsius which is correct

and how about 1 degree degrees celsius, 0.5 degrees celsius?

Best wishes, Clive

Hi Clive,

I don't get it! Can you explain a little more on why "0.5 degrees celsius?"

I did some fact searching on "degree(s)", some result even showed "zero degrees". The only possible scenario I thought is because "zero" is the same as "360 degrees" in scientific consideration. Does this even begin to come close to the truth? Thanks

Hi,

With things like that, the simplest approach is to treat it as idiomatic, instead of looking for deep logic.

You could also think of it this way. We always say 'degrees', except with 'one', because 'one' sounds so strongly and clearly singular.

Best wishes, Clive

Hi, Clive,

How about "0 degrees or 0 degree" in terms of angle in maths?

And how about "A minimum of 10 minutes is / are required?"

Thanks

I'd think of it this way:

not any degrees = zero degrees

The only time I think I would use "zero degree" is when that phrase is actually used as an adjective to modify a noun. For example:

- a zero degree day = a day on which the temperature is zero degrees

Haohaoxuexi And how about "A minimum of 10 minutes is / are