SUBJECT–VERB AGREEMENT
Verbs must agree in number with the sense and form of the subject. Always check if the noun or subject is singular or plural, and make sure that the verb agrees.
e.g.
The President and his Cabinet are attending a summit.
versus
The President is attending a summit.
COLLECTIVE NOUNS
Collective nouns (e.g. “committee,” “group,” “the Cabinet”) normally use singular verbs, but may use plural verbs to refer to actions of the individuals within the group instead of the group itself.
e.g.
The committee has agreed to make a decision on the proposal. [Singular verb]
versus
The committee have been arguing for some time. [Plural verb]
MASS NOUNS AND COUNT NOUNS
“Mass nouns” do not have countable elements or are names of uncountable things (e.g. water; furniture; information); these use singular verbs. “Count nouns” refer to names of things or places we can count (e.g. two towns; 12 books); plural count nouns use plural verbs.
e.g.
His furniture is tasteful.
Many items of furniture in this house are antique.
[Incorrect] The furnitures are antique.
LATIN AND GREEK NOUNS
Take note of nouns such as data, media, criteria, phenomena, etc., as they take plural verbs. Their singular forms are datum, medium, criterion, and phenomenon, respectively.
|
Singular
|
Plural
|
|
medium
|
media
|
|
criterion
|
criteria
|
|
agendum
|
agenda
|
|
curriculum
|
curricula
|
|
bacterium
|
bacteria
|
e.g.
Data were analyzed.
The phenomenon was aired on TV.
REDUNDANCY
| Redundant |
Correct |
| 100th year anniversary |
100th anniversary |
| past history |
history |
| red in color |
red |
BALANCING A SENTENCE
In order to ensure that a sentence balances on either side, certain words, which emphasize similarity or contrast, should be used in parallel: both and and; either and or; neither and nor; between and and; whether and or; and not only and but also.
e.g.
I took a bath both in the morning and in the afternoon.
POLITICALLY SENSITIVE TERMS
Disabilities
- People with disabilities; not the disabled
- People with learning difficulties; not mentally handicapped
Gender
Use neutral nouns:
e.g.
For mankind, use human race instead.
For manpower, use workforce.
