A plurality of grammar question

Question

Hello,Im wondering if "a plurality of devices is connected" or "a plurality of devices are connected" is correctThank you

Ivanhr · Accepted Answer

I would use 'are' regardless of 'a plurality' being singular.

Dimsumexpress · Answer

Ivanhr use 'are' regardless of 'a plurality' being singular.

I

I don't see it that way. Plurality - despite its meaning, is singular in form.

"A plurality of devices is connected.." - is a badly formed sentence in my opinion. If one intends to mean more than one device, I sugges "multiple", which is a better choice of word.

Anonymous · Answer

"A plurality of devices are connected" is not grammatically correct because the true subject of the sentence is singular.

“A plurality of devices is connected” is grammatically correct, but it is not logical because a plurality cannot be connected to itself. It is the devices that make up the plurality that are actually connected to each other.

I would change the sentence to “The devices of a plurality of devices are connected to each other”, which is wordy but perfectly acceptable English in a patent application.

Alternatively, if it is not a patent, rewrite the sentence as “Several devices are connected” or "one or more devices are connected".

Finally, an option that is grammatically correct and logical is “Pluralities of devices are connected.

"Multiple devices are connected" also works provided it is obvious from the context that "muliple" does modify "devices", i.e., meaning the device is a "multiple device".

A plurality of grammar question

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