Lately I've noted the media using plural verbs for singular subjects that seem to be composed of more than one item. For instance, this morning I saw the following headline at physorg:
This is a pandemic at the moment. The word "couple" is also becoming plural. I often see lines like this in the news:
I do not like this trend. I do not like this trend at all.
"Climate engineering: what do the public think?"Puh-leeze. Yes, we know there's more than one person involved in the word "public" -- but it's singular. It should say "what does the public think". Sheesh.
This is a pandemic at the moment. The word "couple" is also becoming plural. I often see lines like this in the news:
"When a couple plan to have children...".No, no, no! It's "When a couple plans to have children".
I do not like this trend. I do not like this trend at all.
2 comments:
Dog knows I make a million mistakes, but I have noticed the same thing. I thought perhaps it was brain that had gone wonky.
So someone has decided to re-write the rules?
Thus far, the data is inconclusive.
Just thought I'd stick that in. I hate when people use "data" as a plural noun, and most educated people do. They think this is the correct way to do it because they consider the word's origin: datum is the singular form; data the plural.
I beg to differ. To speak of data is to speak of a "collection" of data. It's singular. I wince each time I hear someone say "the data are inconclusive". It just ain't right!
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