Girish Mahajan (Editor)

Collective singular

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The collective singular is a grammatical term for referring to a group as one entity rather than as a collection of individuals. This rule is standard in the United States, but uncommon in the UK.

Contents

Examples

  • "Creedence Clearwater Revival was founded in El Cerrito, California".
  • "Nintendo is a video game company headquartered in Japan".

    • This does not, however, affect the tense later in the sentence.

  • "Cream is a psychedelic rock band who were primarily popular in the 1960s.

    • Exceptions in American usage

    Exceptions to the rule include singular group names preceded by an article.

  • "The Who are a rock band from Great Britain."

    • This exception does not apply to artists whose name is preceded by an article, but ends in a singular.

  • "The Band is a band primarily performing roots rock".

    • Abbreviations provide other "exceptions" in American usage concerning plurals.

  • "Runs Batted In" becomes "RBIs". "Smith had 10 RBIs in the last three games."
  • "Revised Statutes Annotated" or RSAs. "The RSAs contain our laws."

    • When only the name is plural but not the object, place, or person.

  • "The bends is a deadly disease mostly affecting SCUBA divers."
  • "Hot Rocks is a greatest hits compilation by The Rolling Stones"

    • References

    Collective singular Wikipedia
    (Text) CC BY-SA