They are a fool/fools

Question

are both correct?"they are a fool""they are fools"When goggling with them, you get 43,400,000, 69,500 results respectively. According to that post, fools are also corret. right?and how about these?they are a beauty.they are beauties.thinks in advance.

Mister Micawber · Accepted Answer

Only these are correct:

they are fools
they are beauties

Kis7385 · Answer

You mean most 43,400,000 results are wrong?

Then why are many many people using the wrong form?

Kooyeen · Answer

Google can't count. The numbers Google gives you can't be trusted at all, and it can be proved easily. I suggest you never make any decisions based on the estimated number of hits Google gives.

As MisterMicawber said, only "They are fools" is correct out of context. If you google for "They are a fool" you'll get several results as well, but they are only acceptable in certain contexts.
The following is one example found by Google:

No one wants to admit they are a fool.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/review/R3V804OAPRFOWV

In the above example, "they" is a kind of "singular they" and it's only acceptable because it refers to "no one". It's used when the gender of the subject is unspecified.

Kis7385 · Answer

I see. thank you for your clear explanation. and I learned a new usage of 'they'

And I have one more question.

can i say

He is one fool.

cause one of my english books says it's wrong or at least sounds awkward. (but not written by a native)

Mister Micawber · Answer

Yes, it is wrong except in very special circumstances (as when counting fools). He is a fool.

Anonymous · Answer

"They" is plural, meaning more than one. Therefore the "s" on the end is appropriate. The "a" needs to be removed since it is used for singular meaning just one.

They are fools.
They are beauties.

He is a fool.
She is a beauty.

They are a fool/fools

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