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Anonymous Posted 15 years ago
Grammar
Public: it or they
If I talk about the public, should I use "it" or "they"?
E.g. It is difficult for the public to accept the outcome, because ["it was" OR "they were"] never involved in the process.
Thank you!
VF
E.g. It is difficult for the public to accept the outcome, because ["it was" OR "they were"] never involved in the process.
Thank you!
VF
Top answer
I suggest 'they were'. It is 'it' that causes consternation for the reader, since the public is/are definitely people; in other structures, 'is' seems a more reasonable alternative: The public is/are unaware of the backroom activities in politics. Like 'team', it would depend on how the writer is viewing the public, as one group or as a multiplicity of individuals.
- I suggest 'they were'.
- It is 'it' that causes consternation for the reader, since the public is/are definitely people; in other structures, 'is' seems a more reasonable alternative: The public is/are unaware of the backroom activities in politics.
- Like 'team', it would depend on how the writer is viewing the public, as one group or as a multiplicity of individuals.
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1 Answers
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I suggest 'they were'. It is 'it' that causes consternation for the reader, since the public is/are definitely people; in other structures, 'is' seems a more reasonable alternative:
The public is/are unaware of the backroom activities in politics.
Like 'team', it would depend on how the writer is viewing the public, as one group or as a multiplicity of individuals.
The public is/are unaware of the backroom activities in politics.
Like 'team', it would depend on how the writer is viewing the public, as one group or as a multiplicity of individuals.
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