State

Question

data communication state of mobile phone terminalsIs singular "state" is best even though it is followed by a plural noun? Thanks

Avangi · Accepted Answer

data communication state of mobile phone terminals

Yes. Plural "states" is rare (except in movie titles

Altered States)

What is the state of your stock market holdings?

"State" = "condition" What is the condition of your golf clubs?
Not, "What are the conditions of your golf clubs."

Well, now that I think more about your example, and try to imagine the context, perhaps the plural is correct.

If you're using this as the title of a spread sheet** listing one-by-one the states of a large number of terminals, plural would work.
But I think the singular would be clearly understood by all, and perhaps preferred by some.
(You'd be listing/displaying the state of each terminal individually, right?)

**Maybe this is some kind of display screen on which the status/statii of the individual terminals is constantly changing.
Hmmm. It seems the plural of "status" is "status."

Liveinjapan · Answer

Thanks so much, Avangi. Your insight really makes me understand this issue clearly!

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