is vs. are in describing pairs of things

Question

A composite material has a stacking structure, where A, B, C denote different types of stacked layers as shown:

     A --------------------   (top)

     C --------------------

     B --------------------

  Core --------------------

     B --------------------

     C --------------------

     A --------------------   (bottom)

Question: Is the verb "is" used correctly for the description for such stacking?

"Between layers B and top and bottom layers A is a layer of C."

(My Q is, shouldn't it be "are layers of C"?)

Appreciated your help for such a trivial Q.

Clive · Accepted Answer

Hi,

Question: Is the verb "is" used correctly for the description for such stacking?

"Between layers B and top and bottom layers A is a layer of C."

(My Q is, shouldn't it be "are layers of C"?) Yes.

You didn't say 'top and bottom' when talking about B. Do you really need to say 'top and bottom' when talking about A?

Perhaps simply say "Between layers B and layers A are layers of C."

Best wishes, Clive

Mister Micawber · Answer

Not trivial, but not really worrying either, as logic helps the reader understand. You can clarify by adding a phrase: On each side of the core is a layer of B and of A, with a layer of C sandwiched between them.

Hoa Thai · Answer

Mister MicawberNot trivial, but not really worrying either, as logic helps the reader understand. You can clarify by adding a phrase: On each side of the core is a layer of B and of A, with a layer of C sandwiched between them.

Hi Mister Micawber,

As you said, it is not trivial. We still need to figure out a way to describe the fact that on the top side of the core A is on top - while on the bottom side of the core, B is on top. Of course, to describe the exact configuration we might have to add one or more clauses before the last one.

Clive · Answer

Hi,

Oh, I see. If that's what you want, why not do it this way, in the form of a simple list?

Proceeding from the top to the bottom, the structure consists of a layer of A, a layer of C, a layer of B, the core, a layer of B, a layer of C and a layer of A.

Clive

Hoa Thai · Answer

Hi Clive,

Maybe there is no other way than the straight forward way as you've just suggested - simple, no confusion, to the point, and with fewer words in the end. I don't think the original poster would be disappointed with such an offer.

Infinik · Answer

Hoa ThaiWe still need to figure out a way to describe the fact that on the top side of the core A is on top - while on the bottom side of the core, B is on top. Of course, to describe the exact configuration we might have to add one or more clauses before the last one.

Indeed, the "top and bottom" are to be emphasized, as the positions are important to point out.

Infinik · Answer

CliveProceeding from the top to the bottom, the structure consists of a layer of A, a layer of C, a layer of B, the core, a layer of B, a layer of C and a layer of A.

Clive

This is very accurate. I should've made it clear, however, that the original sentence in questioned would follow such a detailed description, thus it's intended short but also precise.

Proceeding from the top to the bottom, the structure consists of a layer of A, a layer of C, a layer of B, the core, a layer of B, a layer of C and a layer of A. ..... In another instance, between layers B and top and bottom layers A are layers of D.

Infinik · Answer

Clive(My Q is, shouldn't it be "are layers of C"?) Yes.

Perhaps simply say "Between layers B and layers A are layers of C."

Would this imply that there is a single layer of C on each side of the core?

Or, since I want to make clear that there's only a single layer of C on each side of the core, maybe it could be rephrased as:

Between a layer of B and a top or bottom layer of A is a layer of C.

Hoa Thai · Answer

Infinik
CliveProceeding from the top to the bottom, the structure consists of a layer of A, a layer of C, a layer of B, the core, a layer of B, a layer of C and a layer of A.

Clive
This is very accurate. I should've made it clear, however, that the original sentence in questioned would follow such a detailed description, thus it's intended short but also precise. I don't see how we can be precise yet shorter than what Clive offered!

Proceeding from the top to the bottom, the structure consists of a layer of A, a layer of C, a layer of B, the core, a layer of B, a layer of C and a layer of A. ..... In another instance, between layers B and top and bottom layers A are layers of D. Sorry! I cannot picture what you say, especially without the 'core', which you like to be included. In my opinion, the best way to describe any complex configuration, is to show it and say, "Picture ABC illustrates the desired configuration." - A picture is worth a thousand words, don't you agree?

Infinik · Answer

Hoa Thai[

Proceeding from the top to the bottom, the structure consists of a layer of A, a layer of C, a layer of B, the core, a layer of B, a layer of C and a layer of A. ..... In another instance, between layers B and top and bottom layers A are layers of D. Sorry! I cannot picture what you say, especially without the 'core', which you like to be included. In my opinion, the best way to describe any complex configuration, is to show it and say, "Picture ABC illustrates the desired configuration." - A picture is worth a thousand words, don't you agree?

In a word, yes, but there's background information I've not disclosed for the brevity here. What I meant was that the sentence in questioned (Q) follows a detailed description accompanied by illustrative figures of a similar composite structure that is only different in the stacking order of the layers. So the reader should have no problem figuring out the structure arrangement in that another instance (ie.Q). In fact, Q was pulled out from a patent specification, so you know.

If the picture in this thread has to be described in one sentence, then Clive would hit humerun. I'm just perplexed by the usage of "is" in Q. Perhaps I didn't ask clearly enough. My bad

is vs. are in describing pairs of things

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