RE: Is vs. Are

Subject: RE: Is vs. Are
From: "Combs, Richard" <richard -dot- combs -at- Polycom -dot- com>
To: "Zen C" <zenizenc -at- gmail -dot- com>, <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com>
Date: Tue, 18 Mar 2008 11:06:04 -0600

Zen C wrote:

> Can you help me with this sentence. Should it be is or are?
>
> To verify information *is* up to date, hover over the
> relevant category.
>
> If a word is used both as singular and plural (can't think of
> one right now) is the rule to read it as a singular and use
> "is" or to read it as plural and use "are."
>
> How do you spell the plural of status? Is it statuses or
> status'?? The Merriam Webster Dictionary says statuses, my
> colleague says status'. I am confused.

Information is singular.

Various grocers' signs to the contrary, in _no_ case does one construct
the plural of a word by appending an apostrophe. ("Grocers'" is the
plural possessive, with the apostrophe indicating the possessive.)

Your confusion results from giving equal credence to two conflicting
sources. You need to pick one as authoritative, and ignore the other
when the two disagree. Who do you think knows more about proper
spelling, your colleague or the folks at Merriam-Webster? :-)

Richard


------
Richard G. Combs
Senior Technical Writer
Polycom, Inc.
richardDOTcombs AT polycomDOTcom
303-223-5111
------
rgcombs AT gmailDOTcom
303-777-0436
------




^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Create HTML or Microsoft Word content and convert to Help file formats or
printed documentation. Features include support for Windows Vista & 2007
Microsoft Office, team authoring, plus more.
http://www.DocToHelp.com/TechwrlList

True single source, conditional content, PDF export, modular help.
Help & Manual is the most powerful authoring tool for technical
documentation. Boost your productivity! http://www.helpandmanual.com

---
You are currently subscribed to TECHWR-L as archive -at- web -dot- techwr-l -dot- com -dot-

To unsubscribe send a blank email to
techwr-l-unsubscribe -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
or visit http://lists.techwr-l.com/mailman/options/techwr-l/archive%40web.techwr-l.com


To subscribe, send a blank email to techwr-l-join -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com

Send administrative questions to admin -at- techwr-l -dot- com -dot- Visit
http://www.techwr-l.com/ for more resources and info.


References:
Is vs. Are: From: Zen C

Previous by Author: RE: is more verbiage needed?
Next by Author: RE: More usage: "Open" or "Access" web addresses
Previous by Thread: Is vs. Are
Next by Thread: RE: Is vs. Are


What this post helpful? Share it with friends and colleagues:


Sponsored Ads