The Number vs A Number
The expression the number is followed by a singular verb while the expression a number is followed by a plural verb.
Examples:
The number of people we need to hire is thirteen.
A number of people have written in about this subject.
Pop Quiz
Choose the correct word in each sentence.
1. The number of people lined up for tickets was/were four hundred.
2. A number of suggestions was/were made.
3. There is/are a number of important announcements in the bulletin.
4. Here is/are the number of milk shakes you requested.
Pop Quiz Answers
1. The number of people lined up for tickets was four hundred.
2. A number of suggestions were made.
3. There are a number of important announcements in the bulletin.
4. Here is the number of milk shakes you requested.
Posted on Thursday, December 9th, 2010, at 9:01 am
20 Responses to “The Number vs A Number”
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Its great that you have published such knowledge. I just hope these are all reliable. It would be better if you also include in your page the references that you are using. Thanks!
We have derived and refined our rules over the years from many textbooks on grammar and punctuation and have kept up with the evolving changes to the English language by consulting authoritative reference works such as The Chicago Manual of Style and The Associated Press Stylebook. Including references for every rule would detract from the intent of presenting rules and examples in a simple, easy to understand, and tempting to use format.
Thanks Jane.
You’re welcome.
Hi, You’re doing a very good work by writing these useful articles. Can you tell me out of these two sentences, ” it’s me” and “its i” , which is a correct one? Do we use “me” or “i” in these kind of sentences?
Thanks
Our blog “I vs. Me” addresses this question. The rule says, “Use a subject pronoun following state of being verbs such as am, are, is, was, were.” However, the blog also notes the important distinction between spoken and written language. The formal, written response would be, “It is I.” However when spoken informally, one would be more likely to say, “It’s me.”
Hello everyone!!
This is my sentece:
I decided to interview my mentor Maria Davis, R.D.H., M.S., who is one of the full-time tenured faculty members at Lake Washington Institute of Technology.
Questions:
Do I capitalized her professional tittle?
Is it one of the faculty member or members?
Please help,
Alexandra
The abbreviated title is capitalized, however, Chicago Manual of Style recommends omitting periods in abbreviations that appear in full capitals. Your use of members is correct.
I decided to interview my mentor Maria Davis, RDH, MS, who is one of the full-time tenured faculty members at Lake Washington Institute of Technology
Dear Jane,
I cannot find formal rules on the following capitalization dilemma:
Once you have defined something in a paper, letter, etc., do you then capitalize it? Many have said yes. Here are a couple of examples:
“On March 15, 2008, my husband and I attended a planning meeting for our child’s upcoming school year. The Meeting focused on our son’s supplemental services….
(here is where I am uncertain. Should “Meeting be capped from the definition of it forward?) Just as when you name a university in a correspondence, is then referred to as “the University?” Really appreciate your clarification on this. Thanks, Kelly
Our blog “Capitalization of Governmental Words” addresses this dilemma. The rule says, “When you refer back to a proper noun using a shortened version of the original name, you may capitalize it.” Since your planning meeting is not a proper noun, do not capitalize it like you would “the University” when referring to the University of Wisconsin, for instance.
Hi Jane,
I just found your helpful website. I have one question regarding the usage of ‘Any’. For example, do I need to use ‘if there is any + Singular noun’ of ‘if there are any plural nouns”? Please advise.
In addition, here is the sentence: I am pleased to advise that the Director of Human Resources Department is XXXX. Is the capitalization used in this sentences correct?
Thanks.
Yes, with a singular noun use if there is any and with plural nouns use if there are any. Names of departments are capitalized, but job titles are not when the word the appears in front of the job title.
I am pleased to advise that the director of the Human Resources Department is XXXX.
Hi,
Please give an example without an article, such as, “Number of people … .”
The only thing I can think of is when statistics are listed. For example:
Here’s what we learned about Smallville from the last census:
Number of people living within the city limits: 12,679
Number of males: 6,668
Number of females: 6,011
etc.
is it Pragmatic or Semantic use of the pluralized noun approvers that has me in the throws of a conundrum? Debating co-worker as to proper use with the following sentence as an example; ‘We need to update the system with new Approvers so future projects are not delayed because of approval limits. Once the Approvers limits are adjusted we can test our Approver’s patience.’What is right and what is wrong with usage?
I will assume that earlier in your document you have defined the term or position Approvers which will justify capitalizing the term. Thereafter, simply follow the rules for applying apostrophes to plural possessives: make the noun plural then use the apostrophe. Therefore, your sentences would be:
We need to update the system with new Approvers so future projects are not delayed because of approval limits. Once the Approvers’ limits are adjusted we can test our Approvers’ patience.
Hi Jane.
I knew this rule about the difference between “the number” and “a number,” but was wondering if it also applies to “a person” and “the person.”
Maybe not, but I’m really stuck on a particular sentence and thought maybe this was the reason.
“Another country can require that the person traveling to or through the country have a passport or visa.”
I am 99% sure the verb should be HAVE but I can’t explain why, as the subject is singular. I’ve been told it may have something to do with the verb mood, being in this case imperative, I think?
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
-Katie West
The sentence is an example of the subjunctive mode. The subjunctive mode pairs singular subjects with what we usually think of as plural verbs. The subjunctive is often used in “that” and “if” clauses in sentences that express a wish, request, recommendation, or suggestion. Therfore, the verb have is correct.
Hi Jane,
I once read that when there are more than one noun as subject in a sentence, the nearest to the predicator determines d verb to be used.
E.g;
Sade, Olu and I am going to the party.
Is this really correct?
That is not correct. If the subject is singular, the verb is singular. If there is a plural subject, the verb is plural. In your example, there are three subjects. Therefore, the verb is plural.
Sade, Olu, and I are going to the party.