Write for Business - Blog

Some nouns that are plural in form but singular in meaning require a singular verb: economics, news, mathematics, summons, mumps, and so on.

Economics is a social science, not a pure science.

Exceptions: assets, earnings, premises, proceeds, quarters (These plural-form nouns, though singular in meaning, use a plural verb.)

Last year's earnings were up from 2001!

Our greatest assets are our employees.

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

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)

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)