Write for Business - Blog

Collective nouns (class, faculty, family, committee, navy, team, species, band, crowd, pair, squad) can be singular or plural in meaning. They require a singular verb when they refer to a group as a unit; they require a plural verb when they refer to the group members as individuals.

The team is [not are] required to submit an expense report for the road trip. (Team refers to a group as a unit; it requires the singular verb is.)

The faculty are [not is] highly experienced. (In this example, faculty refers to the individuals within the group. If the word individuals were substituted for faculty, it would become clear that the plural verb are is needed.)

(From Write for Business, page 324, and Proofreader's Guide PDF, page 74)

That’s more than just a line from a method actor. In business it’s the customer’s unspoken question. In writing it’s the reader’s “Why should I care?” In training it’s the audience’s “How does this apply to me?”

As the San Francisco Chronicle reports, educators in California are experiencing remarkable results from addressing this question with a “Linked Learning” program. When math, writing, science, and so on are taught within the context of students’ career interests, those students perk up, pay attention, and more easily grasp what is being taught. The U.S. Department of Education’s new Elementary and Secondary Education Act parallels this idea with its own call for “college/career ready programs.”

UpWrite Press’s Write for Work takes that same common-sense approach, asking trainees to practice writing within the context of their own jobs. (Career-path students are asked to write for a company where they wish to be employed.) Workplace forms, e-mails, memos, business letters, summaries, instructions, reports, and proposals are all covered in this fashion.

If you’re a trainer, we highly recommend tailoring your presentations and exercises to each audience in this way. Instead of showing hypothetical examples of memos and instructions, get your audience involved by presenting them with real-world situations. Write for Work provides plenty of direction in that regard, and for a limited time, trainers can apply for a free review copy.

- Lester Smith

Photo by Apenas imagens - Marília Almeida

The indefinite pronouns all, any, most, none, and some may be either singular or plural. These pronouns are singular if the number of the noun in the prepositional phrase that follows is singular; they are plural if the noun is plural.

Most of the manuals were missing. (Manuals, the noun in the prepositional phrase, is plural; therefore, the pronoun most is considered plural, and the plural verb were is used to agree with it.)

Much of the meeting was over by the time we arrived. (Because meeting is singular, much is also singular, requiring the singular verb was.)

All are expected to attend.

(From Write for Business, page 324, and Proofreader's Guide PDF, page 74)

The indefinite pronouns each, either, neither, one, everybody, another, anybody, anyone, anything, everyone, everything, nobody, somebody, and someone are singular; they require a singular verb.

Everybody is required to leave early today.

Note: Do not be confused by words or phrases that come between the indefinite pronoun and the verb.

Each of the attendants is [not are] required to bring a notepad and pens to the briefing.

The indefinite pronouns both, few, several, and many are plural; they require a plural verb.

Many are being called, but few are answering their phones.

(From Write for Business, page 261, and Proofreader's Guide PDF, page 73)

Seam (noun) is a line formed by joining two pieces. Seem (verb) means "to give the impression of being."

The stuffing was coming out of the seams on her chair.

You seem to be capable of handling this yourself.

(From Write for Business, page 237, and Proofreader's Guide PDF, page 49)