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Usenet Posted 20 years ago
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Italics - singular or plural verb?
The sentence reads "Italics indicates (something.)" Shouldn't it be 'Italics indicate (something)" ??
Thanks -
Thanks -
Top answer
[/nq] The italic characters (the italics) indate sometheing ... but (the use of) italics indicates something. You have to decide what was being elided by the writer.
- [/nq] The italic characters (the italics) indate sometheing ...
- but (the use of) italics indicates something.
- You have to decide what was being elided by the writer.
- On the whole I agree with you, "indicate" seems more natural.
- Cheers, Daniel.
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6 Answers
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[nq:1]The sentence reads "Italics indicates (something.)" Shouldn't it be 'Italics indicate (something)" ??[/nq]
The italic characters (the italics) indate sometheing ... but (the use of) italics indicates something. You have to decide what was being elided by the writer.
On the whole I agree with you, "indicate" seems more natural.
Cheers,
Daniel.
The italic characters (the italics) indate sometheing ... but (the use of) italics indicates something. You have to decide what was being elided by the writer.
On the whole I agree with you, "indicate" seems more natural.
Cheers,
Daniel.
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[nq:1]The sentence reads "Italics indicates (something.)" Shouldn't it be 'Italics indicate (something)" ??[/nq]
Yes: 1: Italic is an adjective (thus cannot be
pluralized. Used alone it implies a noun, e.g.
italic font, italic type, italic handwriting.
2. Plural italics indicates that it must be anoun, thus requiring a plural verb.
Don Phillipson
Carlsbad Springs
Yes: 1: Italic is an adjective (thus cannot be
pluralized. Used alone it implies a noun, e.g.
italic font, italic type, italic handwriting.
2. Plural italics indicates that it must be anoun, thus requiring a plural verb.
Don Phillipson
Carlsbad Springs
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[nq:2]The sentence reads "Italics indicates (something.)" Shouldn't it be 'Italics indicate (something)" ??[/nq]
[nq:1]Yes: 1: Italic is an adjective (thus cannot be pluralized. Used alone it implies a noun, e.g. italic font, italic type, italic handwriting. 2. Plural italics indicates that it must be a noun, thus requiring a plural verb.[/nq]
But if "italics" means italic fonts it can. Al
[nq:1]Yes: 1: Italic is an adjective (thus cannot be pluralized. Used alone it implies a noun, e.g. italic font, italic type, italic handwriting. 2. Plural italics indicates that it must be a noun, thus requiring a plural verb.[/nq]
But if "italics" means italic fonts it can. Al
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[nq:1]The term font comes from the term fountain a receptacle used in monasteries -the traditional homes of early printing presses due to the duties of some monasteries of transcibing literature, notably the religious stuff.[/nq]
. . . And chapel is the traditional name for an
association of printers in Britain, e.g. locals in the printers' union are (or were) called chapels.
The troub
. . . And chapel is the traditional name for an
association of printers in Britain, e.g. locals in the printers' union are (or were) called chapels.
The troub
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[nq:1]The sentence reads "Italics indicates (something.)" Shouldn't it be 'Italics indicate (something)" ?? Thanks -[/nq]
While "italics indicate" certainly sounds right, "italics indicates" doesn't sound all that wrong.
According the A-H (New College Edition) definition for "italic": "(it's) usually used in the plural, sometimes with a singular verb". While the analogy may be imperfect, t
While "italics indicate" certainly sounds right, "italics indicates" doesn't sound all that wrong.
According the A-H (New College Edition) definition for "italic": "(it's) usually used in the plural, sometimes with a singular verb". While the analogy may be imperfect, t
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Your answer makes the most sense. I may just rewrite it to read: "Such and such in italics." and start sleeping nights. : )
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