Collective Nouns
Stacy Christiansen
in AMA Manual of Style: A Guide for Authors and Editors (10th edition)
A collective noun is one that names more than 1 person, place, or thing. When the group is regarded as a unit, the singular verb is the appropriate choice. (See also , Plurals, Collective Nouns.)The ...
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Compound Subject
Stacy Christiansen
in AMA Manual of Style: A Guide for Authors and Editors (10th edition)
When 2 words or 2 groups of words, usually joined by and or or, are the subject of the sentence, either the singular or plural verb form may be appropriate, depending on whether the words joined are ...
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Every and Many a
Stacy Christiansen
in AMA Manual of Style: A Guide for Authors and Editors (10th edition)
When every or many a is used before a word or series of words, use the singular verb form.Many a clinician does not understand statistics. (But, better yet: Many clinicians do not understand ...
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False Plurals
Stacy Christiansen
in AMA Manual of Style: A Guide for Authors and Editors (10th edition)
Some nouns, by virtue of ending in a “plural” -s form, are mistakenly taken to be plurals even though they should be treated as singular and take a singular verb (eg, measles, mumps, mathematics, ...
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False Singulars
Stacy Christiansen
in AMA Manual of Style: A Guide for Authors and Editors (10th edition)
A few plural nouns are used so often in the singular that they are often paired with a singular verb.The agenda has been set for our next meeting. Frequently treated erroneously in this way are the ...
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Intervening Phrase
Stacy Christiansen
in AMA Manual of Style: A Guide for Authors and Editors (10th edition)
Plural nouns take plural verbs and singular nouns take singular verbs, even if a phrase ending in a plural noun follows a singular subject or if a phrase ending in a singular noun follows a plural ...
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Number
Stacy Christiansen
in AMA Manual of Style: A Guide for Authors and Editors (10th edition)
The number is singular and a number of is plural (see also , Collective Nouns).The number that responded was surprising. A number of respondents were concerned about adverse effects. The same is true ...
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One of Those
Stacy Christiansen
in AMA Manual of Style: A Guide for Authors and Editors (10th edition)
In clauses that follow one of those, the plural verb form is always correct.Dr Cotter is one of those researchers who prefer the library to the laboratory. |
Parenthetical Plurals
Stacy Christiansen
in AMA Manual of Style: A Guide for Authors and Editors (10th edition)
When -s or -es is added parenthetically to a word to express the possibility of a plural, the verb should be singular. However, in most instances it is preferable to avoid this construction and use ...
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Shift in Number of Subject and Resultant Subject-Verb Disagreement
Stacy Christiansen
in AMA Manual of Style: A Guide for Authors and Editors (10th edition)
In elliptical constructions involving the verb (ie, the second verb is omitted because it is understood), if the number of the subject changes, the construction is incorrect. |