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Post by Charlie O. on Jul 7, 2022 17:02:59 GMT
"There are a number of..."
or
"There is a number of..."
?
The latter seems like it should be right, what with "number" being a singular noun, but the former feels right, and more common. But maybe that just means that most people are saying it wrong! Or maybe not. Help me think.
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Post by Half Machine Lipschitz on Jul 7, 2022 17:04:37 GMT
There are....things
There is....things
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Post by Charlie O. on Jul 7, 2022 17:06:53 GMT
Yeah, I know. But:
"There is a number"
"There are a number"
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Post by oh oooh on Jul 7, 2022 17:09:25 GMT
"There are a number of..." or "There is a number of..." ? The latter seems like it should be right, what with "number" being a singular noun, but the former feels right, and more common. But maybe that just means that most people are saying it wrong! That's it! 'a number' is singular and it's what 'there is' refers to. But the other form is probably more commonly used.
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Post by souphound on Jul 7, 2022 17:51:24 GMT
There is a number of reasons why that is.
There are a number of reasons why that is. (NOT!)
I think.
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Post by Charlie O. on Jul 7, 2022 18:28:26 GMT
Thanks, chums!
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Sneelock
god
you're gonna break another heart
Posts: 8,546
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Post by Sneelock on Jul 7, 2022 20:12:54 GMT
My Grammar ran over my dogma in my karma.
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Post by Charlie O. on Jul 7, 2022 20:41:05 GMT
Bummer.
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Post by cousinlou on Jul 7, 2022 21:18:57 GMT
There is a number of reasons why that is. There are a number of reasons why that is. (NOT!) I think. Replace ‘a number’ by ‘several’ (like most grammar/ language programs like Gramarly will suggest)
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Post by souphound on Jul 7, 2022 22:43:55 GMT
There is a number of reasons why that is. There are a number of reasons why that is. (NOT!) I think. Replace ‘a number’ by ‘several’ (like most grammar/ language programs like Gramarly will suggest) True. "Several" and "many" can replace "a number of", but I assume they are perceived as less precise, even though "a number of" is not all that precise itself. I'm curious about the proper order, for these from small to large (in terms of common perception that is). Is this correct? There is no reason... There is a reason... There are some reasons... There are a few reasons... There is a number of reasons... There are several reasons... There are many reasons... There is a large/gigantic/etc. number of reasons... There is an infinite number of reasons... I'm not too sure about a few of those, especially some vs a few and many vs several. Yes, I'm bored at the moment.
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Post by DarknessFish on Jul 8, 2022 18:56:42 GMT
I'd say "there are a number" is the more regular/common construction, and that there is no strict right or wrong in this. It's more about whether the sentence then sounds clunky or not. "A number" is only singular in the way that "The Beatles" is.
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osgood
god
Posts: 2,079
Member is Online
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Post by osgood on Jul 8, 2022 19:08:17 GMT
I'd say "there are a number" is the more regular/common construction, and that there is no strict right or wrong in this. It's more about whether the sentence then sounds clunky or not. "A number" is only singular in the way that "The Beatles" is. The Beatles was a band or The Beatles were a band? Just checked on wiki and it says 'were', but then Jefferson Airplane 'was' a band. Does it come from the use of plural/singular in the name? (Ignorant me, I would have said The Beatles was a band...)
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Post by oh oooh on Jul 8, 2022 19:14:55 GMT
it's a Brit/American English thing
her family is...
her family are....
same idea
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Post by Charlie O. on Jul 8, 2022 19:27:06 GMT
it's a Brit/American English thing her family is... her family are.... same idea Not sure about that - I hear both here. "Math" vs. "maths," on the other hand...
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Sneelock
god
you're gonna break another heart
Posts: 8,546
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Post by Sneelock on Jul 8, 2022 19:29:00 GMT
the rang in spang stays mangley on the plang!
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