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Guest Posted 22 years ago
Grammar
When to use 'is' and 'are' has caused an argument in the office
My boss frequently dictates: 'British Coal are prepared to offer....'
I say it is: 'British Coal is prepared to offer.....' Please settle this once and for all before blood is spilled!
I contend that he is referring to a large organisation, which therefore is singular, then 'is' is appropriate, and 'are' would only be correct if the sentence read 'the Directors of British Coal are prepared to offer....'
Other people in the office are divided on it - because common usage (in the North of England) favours the plural 'are'in this context, has it thereby become 'correct'?
Your thoughts please!
Many thanks.
I say it is: 'British Coal is prepared to offer.....' Please settle this once and for all before blood is spilled!
I contend that he is referring to a large organisation, which therefore is singular, then 'is' is appropriate, and 'are' would only be correct if the sentence read 'the Directors of British Coal are prepared to offer....'
Other people in the office are divided on it - because common usage (in the North of England) favours the plural 'are'in this context, has it thereby become 'correct'?
Your thoughts please!
Many thanks.
Top answer
Hi, I think you are absolutely correct in your thoughts on this sentence. An organization is a singular entity, although sometimes we tend to think of it as its people. Does common usage make something correct?
- Hi, I think you are absolutely correct in your thoughts on this sentence.
- An organization is a singular entity, although sometimes we tend to think of it as its people.
- Does common usage make something correct?
- That's a very interesting question.
- For a start, you have to define what 'correct' means, and decide whether you see grammar as a set of rules to be obeyed or as a description of how people speak.
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56 Answers
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Hi,
I think you are absolutely correct in your thoughts on this sentence. An organization is a singular entity, although sometimes we tend to think of it as its people.
Does common usage make something correct? That's a very interesting question. For a start, you have to define what 'correct' means, and decide whether you see grammar as a set of rules to be obeyed or as a descripti
I think you are absolutely correct in your thoughts on this sentence. An organization is a singular entity, although sometimes we tend to think of it as its people.
Does common usage make something correct? That's a very interesting question. For a start, you have to define what 'correct' means, and decide whether you see grammar as a set of rules to be obeyed or as a descripti
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Usage is the only factor that makes for correctness.
A grammar book is a collection of rules for how to speak and write the way most educated people are speaking and writing at any given point in time.
People speak and write English differently in different places and at different times.
That's why the "rules" you read in grammar books differ depending if the grammar book is from o
A grammar book is a collection of rules for how to speak and write the way most educated people are speaking and writing at any given point in time.
People speak and write English differently in different places and at different times.
That's why the "rules" you read in grammar books differ depending if the grammar book is from o
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Thankyou for your reply, Clive, the more I think about what is common usage, the more frustrated I get, as I am passionate about English, and feel that it is a discipline, albeit, 'elastic sided'. But... I also know that our language is continually evolving, and when the common laws of grammar are broken continually, I have to ask myself, should I go with the flow, or hold out just a little long
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Hello Jim, I am struggling a bit to understand your point of view - of course I accept that English speakers from America and England are going to use slightly different rules, and that's fine by me - however, I have also noticed that in American usage, expressions such as 'School is Out' prevail, using the singular form - but then America is so huge, you will have a great variance of usage betwe
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A few comments.
I didn't realize it was going to be a struggle to understand what I wrote!
The difference (rega
I didn't realize it was going to be a struggle to understand what I wrote!
The difference (rega
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Hello again Jim, and thanks for taking the time to answer my query. The point I was making about 'School is out' is that in my mind that is the correct grammar, not incorrect - perhaps I worded it badly (oops!), and my English friends who argue with me would, I think agree with you and me that 'School are out' sounds idiotic. Had my boss been an American, I would have enjoyed hearing the differ
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You do make me smile!
As for the grunts, you've heard of "ashes to ashes", I suppose?
Well, the language started as grunts, so I figure it may as well end up as grunts!
By the way, can you keep the peace by writing "We at British Coal are ..."??? (I'm assuming my suggestion of boxing the young man's ears would only exacerbate the situation.)
It seems to me that
As for the grunts, you've heard of "ashes to ashes", I suppose?
Well, the language started as grunts, so I figure it may as well end up as grunts!
By the way, can you keep the peace by writing "We at British Coal are ..."??? (I'm assuming my suggestion of boxing the young man's ears would only exacerbate the situation.)
It seems to me that
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Do you know, Jim, what had been an irritant has turned into something very positive, after all, I made you smile, and created a bit of a debate. If you ever visited my home town on Saturday nights, the idea of reverting to grunts would not seem like some weird prophecy, believe me - I talk to taxi drivers a lot, who often refer to the drunken youngsters who take over the town centre as Neanderth
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Hello Isabel, Clive and CJ
May I join your very interesting discussion?
I wonder whether there would be any debate about such questions, if there weren't something to be said on both sides.
In this instance, perhaps we lose a useful distinction, when we insist that an 'entity' must be either singular or plural.
It seems to me that 'entities' are oft
May I join your very interesting discussion?
I wonder whether there would be any debate about such questions, if there weren't something to be said on both sides.
In this instance, perhaps we lose a useful distinction, when we insist that an 'entity' must be either singular or plural.
It seems to me that 'entities' are oft
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Hello Mr Pedantic - you are very welcome, and I entirely agree that context can and even should (for the sake of clarity) change usage on occasions, however having looked at your examples, I would still say that in a formal environment, i.e. not chatting with mates in the pub, but in communication from one company to another, I stick to the principle which started this debate.
I would
I would
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