Staff

Question

Hi.I have seen staff is both followed by plural and singular verbs, Is there any difference in each case?Ex. The staff were very helpful.Ex. The staff has done an outstanding job this year.What is the genral rule?Thanks

Dave_anon · Accepted Answer

Hi

Others may disagree, but my advice would be that staff are always plural

In old-fashioned usage, they might be thought of as one thing but I don't think that sounds right nowadays

Best regards, Dave

Hrsanei · Answer

Hi.

Thanks Dave for your response.

But the example I cited was from Longman dictionary.( http://www.ldoceonline.com/dictionary/staff_1 )

I am kind of confused

Regards

O.ABOOTTY · Answer

In British English, STAFF can be singular or plural. In American English STAFF is not used as frequently as in British English, and is never followed by a plural verb.

You never refer to a person as 'a staff'. Say A MEMBER OF STAFF (British English) or STAFF MEMBER (American English) or an OFFICIAL or EMPLOYEE.

It is not wrong if you say a STAFFER.

O.Abootty

Kerala

India

Dave_anon · Answer

Hi again

My answer only concerns cases where a group of people are referred to as "staff"; or as "the staff". Your question is whether we use a singular or plural verb..

- The staff has been badly behaved

- The staff have been badly behaved

You asked..

- What is the difference?

- What is the general rule?

I would say the difference is that the singular is old-fashioned. I'm not saying it is wrong or that it is never used; just that I don't think it is seen so often now

The word, of course, originally meant stick or baton. My belief is that it then comes to mean a group of people who are organised by someone carrying that symbol (and in some cases, using it to keep people in order)

From that, you will see it in the singular..

- General Smith cannot be trusted: his staff is rebellious

However, in modern language, it is usually thought that each individual member of staff makes a contribution: so they are plural..

- I'm really pleased with my staff: they all give 100%

I suppose I would say there is a social shift from singular to plural. The Longman example, I would say, is an older example

And then there is the question: what is the general rule? I would say that in modern speech you would generally use the plural. Very rarely, I think, would the singular now seem natural

Hope this is not too wordy and that it helps, Dave

Hrsanei · Answer

Thank you very much Dave and Mr. Abooty for your explanations. They were very helpful.

THe freedcitionary.com introduces staffs as a plural form of staff(http://www.thefreedictionary.com/staff ).

I personally haven't seen staffs used. I would be grateful if you could express your opinion about it.

Dave_anon · Answer

Hi

I have never heard "staffs" as a plural for one group of people. It doesn't sound right to me at all

In very rare cases I suppose it might be used to refer to more than one group of employees..

[singular] - The staff at my hospital were congratulated by the authority

[plural] - In our area, the staffs at three hospitals were congratulated by the authority

But that last one still sounds rare and quite strange to me

Best regards, Dave

Dimsumexpress · Answer

Interesting topic...!

If I learned my English well, "staff" is mostly used in collective form as this word implies "everyone" working under a particular management. There maybe rare contexts where more than one manangement is involved, such that the plural form; "staffs" is possible. However, it is mostly used in singular form. Just my two cents...

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