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AMA Manual of Style (10th ed.) : A Guide for Authors and Editors

AMA Manual of Style Committee

Publisher:
Oxford University Press
Print Publication Date:
Mar 2007
Print ISBN-13:
9780195176339
Published to AMA Manual of Style:
Apr 2009
DOI:
10.1093/jama/9780195176339.001.0001
© American Medical Association
Contents

Subject and Predicate Noun Differ in Number

Chapter:
Grammar
Author(s):

Stacy Christiansen

7.8.8 Subject and Predicate Noun Differ in Number

The predicate noun is the complement of a subject; it identifies, describes, or renames the subject. When the subject and predicate noun differ in number, follow the number of the subject in selecting the singular or plural verb form.

Incorrect:

The most significant factor that affected the study results were interhospital variations in severity of illness.

Correct:

The most significant factor that affected the study results was interhospital variations in severity of illness.

Avoid this by rephrasing:

Study results were most affected by interhospital variations in severity of illness.