A minimum of two personnel “are” or “is”?
Which is correct?
A minimum of two personnel are required to meet this objective.
or
A minimum of two personnel is required to meet this objective.
grammatical-number verb-agreement irregular-plurals
edited Mar 1 at 21:18
sumelic
49.3k8116223
asked Mar 1 at 19:19
BrettABrettA
345
add a comment |
Which is correct?
A minimum of two personnel are required to meet this objective.
or
A minimum of two personnel is required to meet this objective.
grammatical-number verb-agreement irregular-plurals
edited Mar 1 at 21:18
sumelic
49.3k8116223
asked Mar 1 at 19:19
BrettABrettA
345
Possible duplicate of "A total of 10 babies is..." vs. "a total of 10 babies are..." vs. "Ten babies in total are..."
– Cody Gray
Mar 2 at 0:45
add a comment |
Which is correct?
A minimum of two personnel are required to meet this objective.
or
A minimum of two personnel is required to meet this objective.
grammatical-number verb-agreement irregular-plurals
edited Mar 1 at 21:18
sumelic
49.3k8116223
asked Mar 1 at 19:19
BrettABrettA
345
Which is correct?
A minimum of two personnel are required to meet this objective.
or
A minimum of two personnel is required to meet this objective.
grammatical-number verb-agreement irregular-plurals
grammatical-number verb-agreement irregular-plurals
edited Mar 1 at 21:18
sumelic
49.3k8116223
asked Mar 1 at 19:19
BrettABrettA
345
edited Mar 1 at 21:18
sumelic
49.3k8116223
asked Mar 1 at 19:19
BrettABrettA
345
edited Mar 1 at 21:18
sumelic
49.3k8116223
edited Mar 1 at 21:18
sumelic
49.3k8116223
edited Mar 1 at 21:18
sumelic
49.3k8116223
49.3k8116223
asked Mar 1 at 19:19
BrettABrettA
345
asked Mar 1 at 19:19
BrettABrettA
345
asked Mar 1 at 19:19
BrettABrettA
345
345
Possible duplicate of "A total of 10 babies is..." vs. "a total of 10 babies are..." vs. "Ten babies in total are..."
– Cody Gray
Mar 2 at 0:45
add a comment |
Possible duplicate of "A total of 10 babies is..." vs. "a total of 10 babies are..." vs. "Ten babies in total are..."
– Cody Gray
Mar 2 at 0:45
Possible duplicate of "A total of 10 babies is..." vs. "a total of 10 babies are..." vs. "Ten babies in total are..."
– Cody Gray
Mar 2 at 0:45
Possible duplicate of "A total of 10 babies is..." vs. "a total of 10 babies are..." vs. "Ten babies in total are..."
– Cody Gray
Mar 2 at 0:45
add a comment |
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
Your question relates to a common ‘singular versus plural’ dilemma, where there is a reasonable case for each.
1 A minimum of two personnel are required to ....
It is tempting to say that the plural “two personnel” is embedded in the singular “a minimum” and so the copula should be plural.
- A minimum of two personnel is required...
“A minimum” (singular) is the grammatical subject of the copula and so the copula should be singular (is).
Think of other ways of saying this.
what is required ... is a minimum of two personnel.
The standard answer to such dilemmas is to say it depends whether the writer is thinking of the singular unit or the plural members of it. But the decision to plump for one or the other is ultimately arbitrary. To some one feels wrong, to others the other does. So I have chosen to say it doesn’t matter.
Except either of the alternatives will bother somebody. So a principle (which I admit has no support in grammatical law) of ‘being considerate to the audience’ should apply: rephrase it entirely. And one is ready to hand (and briefer too):-
At least two people are required ....
answered Mar 1 at 20:02
TuffyTuffy
3,9361620
add a comment |
"A minimum of two personnel are required to meet this objective" is correct, even though the word "minimum" may be read as singular.
For an explanation regarding a similar question, please read @Jimi Oke's excellent answer here.
answered Mar 1 at 19:29
Mark HubbardMark Hubbard
6,18021131
add a comment |
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2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
Your question relates to a common ‘singular versus plural’ dilemma, where there is a reasonable case for each.
1 A minimum of two personnel are required to ....
It is tempting to say that the plural “two personnel” is embedded in the singular “a minimum” and so the copula should be plural.
- A minimum of two personnel is required...
“A minimum” (singular) is the grammatical subject of the copula and so the copula should be singular (is).
Think of other ways of saying this.
what is required ... is a minimum of two personnel.
The standard answer to such dilemmas is to say it depends whether the writer is thinking of the singular unit or the plural members of it. But the decision to plump for one or the other is ultimately arbitrary. To some one feels wrong, to others the other does. So I have chosen to say it doesn’t matter.
Except either of the alternatives will bother somebody. So a principle (which I admit has no support in grammatical law) of ‘being considerate to the audience’ should apply: rephrase it entirely. And one is ready to hand (and briefer too):-
At least two people are required ....
answered Mar 1 at 20:02
TuffyTuffy
3,9361620
add a comment |
Your question relates to a common ‘singular versus plural’ dilemma, where there is a reasonable case for each.
1 A minimum of two personnel are required to ....
It is tempting to say that the plural “two personnel” is embedded in the singular “a minimum” and so the copula should be plural.
- A minimum of two personnel is required...
“A minimum” (singular) is the grammatical subject of the copula and so the copula should be singular (is).
Think of other ways of saying this.
what is required ... is a minimum of two personnel.
The standard answer to such dilemmas is to say it depends whether the writer is thinking of the singular unit or the plural members of it. But the decision to plump for one or the other is ultimately arbitrary. To some one feels wrong, to others the other does. So I have chosen to say it doesn’t matter.
Except either of the alternatives will bother somebody. So a principle (which I admit has no support in grammatical law) of ‘being considerate to the audience’ should apply: rephrase it entirely. And one is ready to hand (and briefer too):-
At least two people are required ....
answered Mar 1 at 20:02
TuffyTuffy
3,9361620
add a comment |
Your question relates to a common ‘singular versus plural’ dilemma, where there is a reasonable case for each.
1 A minimum of two personnel are required to ....
It is tempting to say that the plural “two personnel” is embedded in the singular “a minimum” and so the copula should be plural.
- A minimum of two personnel is required...
“A minimum” (singular) is the grammatical subject of the copula and so the copula should be singular (is).
Think of other ways of saying this.
what is required ... is a minimum of two personnel.
The standard answer to such dilemmas is to say it depends whether the writer is thinking of the singular unit or the plural members of it. But the decision to plump for one or the other is ultimately arbitrary. To some one feels wrong, to others the other does. So I have chosen to say it doesn’t matter.
Except either of the alternatives will bother somebody. So a principle (which I admit has no support in grammatical law) of ‘being considerate to the audience’ should apply: rephrase it entirely. And one is ready to hand (and briefer too):-
At least two people are required ....
answered Mar 1 at 20:02
TuffyTuffy
3,9361620
Your question relates to a common ‘singular versus plural’ dilemma, where there is a reasonable case for each.
1 A minimum of two personnel are required to ....
It is tempting to say that the plural “two personnel” is embedded in the singular “a minimum” and so the copula should be plural.
- A minimum of two personnel is required...
“A minimum” (singular) is the grammatical subject of the copula and so the copula should be singular (is).
Think of other ways of saying this.
what is required ... is a minimum of two personnel.
The standard answer to such dilemmas is to say it depends whether the writer is thinking of the singular unit or the plural members of it. But the decision to plump for one or the other is ultimately arbitrary. To some one feels wrong, to others the other does. So I have chosen to say it doesn’t matter.
Except either of the alternatives will bother somebody. So a principle (which I admit has no support in grammatical law) of ‘being considerate to the audience’ should apply: rephrase it entirely. And one is ready to hand (and briefer too):-
At least two people are required ....
answered Mar 1 at 20:02
TuffyTuffy
3,9361620
answered Mar 1 at 20:02
TuffyTuffy
3,9361620
answered Mar 1 at 20:02
TuffyTuffy
3,9361620
answered Mar 1 at 20:02
TuffyTuffy
3,9361620
3,9361620
add a comment |
add a comment |
"A minimum of two personnel are required to meet this objective" is correct, even though the word "minimum" may be read as singular.
For an explanation regarding a similar question, please read @Jimi Oke's excellent answer here.
answered Mar 1 at 19:29
Mark HubbardMark Hubbard
6,18021131
add a comment |
"A minimum of two personnel are required to meet this objective" is correct, even though the word "minimum" may be read as singular.
For an explanation regarding a similar question, please read @Jimi Oke's excellent answer here.
answered Mar 1 at 19:29
Mark HubbardMark Hubbard
6,18021131
add a comment |
"A minimum of two personnel are required to meet this objective" is correct, even though the word "minimum" may be read as singular.
For an explanation regarding a similar question, please read @Jimi Oke's excellent answer here.
answered Mar 1 at 19:29
Mark HubbardMark Hubbard
6,18021131
"A minimum of two personnel are required to meet this objective" is correct, even though the word "minimum" may be read as singular.
For an explanation regarding a similar question, please read @Jimi Oke's excellent answer here.
answered Mar 1 at 19:29
Mark HubbardMark Hubbard
6,18021131
answered Mar 1 at 19:29
Mark HubbardMark Hubbard
6,18021131
answered Mar 1 at 19:29
Mark HubbardMark Hubbard
6,18021131
answered Mar 1 at 19:29
Mark HubbardMark Hubbard
6,18021131
6,18021131
add a comment |
add a comment |
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Possible duplicate of "A total of 10 babies is..." vs. "a total of 10 babies are..." vs. "Ten babies in total are..."
– Cody Gray
Mar 2 at 0:45