Los Angeles Times

A Word, Please: A simple rule for nouns that are singular and plural at the same time

The couple is going to purchase the house? Or the couple are going to purchase the house? Even after all my years of editing, I can still get tripped up trying to make verbs agree with collective ...
Los Angeles Times

A Word, Please: Singular vs. plural? That’s the question

A friend emailed recently to ask about the grammar on a T-shirt that read: “The only minority destroying the country are the billionaires.” His question: “Am I wrong or is the grammar on her T-shirt ...
Times Union

Some words both singular and plural

A reader named Judy recently wrote to say it bothers her to hear "None were there" in place of "None was there." Then a reader named Richard noticed this news headline, "Disabled couple win right to ...
Searchenginejournal.com

Why Google Ranks Singular and Plural Keywords Differently

Google’s John Mueller was asked about why Google ranks different pages for singular and plural versions of keywords. John gave details on why Google’s algorithm treated plural keywords differently ...
The Economist

Should “data” be singular or plural?

For more than a millennium after the fall of Rome, educated Europeans were distinguished by their knowledge of Latin. One of the three subjects of the trivium—the basic tier of a classical education, ...
The New York Times

ARE OR IS?; Whether a Plural or a Singular Verb Goes With the Words United States.

Written for THE NEW YORK TIMES SATUR- DAY REVIEW By the Hon. John W. Foster. Formerly Secretary of State, United States Minister To Russia, Spain, &C. TimesMachine is an exclusive benefit for home ...