Grammar

Question

Is it correct to say the majority doesn't or the majority don't? as in the majority of us don't like this!

Cool Breeze · Accepted Answer

I would use don't in your example but I'm sure there are cases in which doesn't is correct as well. Especially British English tends to use plural verbs with some singular nouns if they refer to many people: staff, family, audience etc.

This is common even when the subject is a country: England are up 2-0.

CB

Sinhmani · Answer

When majority refers to a particular number of votes, it takes a singular verb:
Her majority was five votes.
His majority has been growing by 5 percent every year.

When it refers to a group of persons or things that are in the majority, it may take either a singular or plural verb, depending on whether the group is considered as a whole or as a set of people considered individually.

So we say The majority elects (not elect) the candidate it wants (not they want),
since the election is accomplished by the group as a whole; but The majority of the voters live (not lives) in the city, since living in the city is something that each voter does individually.

TIP : When the majority is not followed by 'of', you can use either a singular or plural form of a verb after it.
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Anyone who uses a plural verb with a collective noun must take care to be accurate—and also consistent.
E.g. :
The staff is deciding how they want to vote.
Careful speakers and writers would avoid assigning the singular is and the plural they to staff in the same sentence.
Consistent: The staff are deciding how they want to vote.

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