Jun 14, 2006 14:24
18 yrs ago
1 viewer *
English term
TRANSLATIONS THAT READ LIKE ORIGINALS
Native in: Spanish
Works in: English to Spanish, Spanish, Spanish to English, and 1 more.
Staff Monitors Site
English
Other
Journalism
US English
I just saw the following headline on a Website:
XXX XXX Park Remains Closed as Staff Monitors Site
I would have written "as staff monitor site", in prural.
Would I have been wrong, or is the text on the site wrong?
Thanks in advance
XXX XXX Park Remains Closed as Staff Monitors Site
I would have written "as staff monitor site", in prural.
Would I have been wrong, or is the text on the site wrong?
Thanks in advance
Responses
+9
8 mins
Selected
it's up to you
I personally prefer "staff monitor site".
The general idea seems to be as follows:
"When you use a collective noun, it may be followed by either a singular or plural verb, depending on whether you are thinking of the group as a unit, in which case it will be singular, or as a number of individuals, in which case it will be plural".
So it depends on whether you are thinking of the staff as a unit or as individuals.
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Note added at 11 mins (2006-06-14 14:36:47 GMT)
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In fact, I find "the staff is..." really awkward. But "staff monitors site" and "staff monitor site" are fine. Either way.
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Note added at 29 mins (2006-06-14 14:54:20 GMT)
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I have just seen that the category is US English: I can only speak for this side of the Atlantic. Sorry.
The general idea seems to be as follows:
"When you use a collective noun, it may be followed by either a singular or plural verb, depending on whether you are thinking of the group as a unit, in which case it will be singular, or as a number of individuals, in which case it will be plural".
So it depends on whether you are thinking of the staff as a unit or as individuals.
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Note added at 11 mins (2006-06-14 14:36:47 GMT)
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In fact, I find "the staff is..." really awkward. But "staff monitors site" and "staff monitor site" are fine. Either way.
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Note added at 29 mins (2006-06-14 14:54:20 GMT)
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I have just seen that the category is US English: I can only speak for this side of the Atlantic. Sorry.
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "Wonderful, thanks!"
+2
8 mins
jccantrell
United States
United States
Native in English
&
English
United States
Was nicht ist, kann noch werden.
Native in: English (Variant: US) 
Works in: German to English
Related KudoZ points
:
8
only one staff
As a native speaker, I would go with singular. It is one of those collective nouns we have: personnel, staff, people. They encompass a group.
You may use it in the plural like this:
The staffs of IBM, Dell and Lenovo went out on strike today.
Just my thought from the USA.
You may use it in the plural like this:
The staffs of IBM, Dell and Lenovo went out on strike today.
Just my thought from the USA.
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Jack Doughty
: I prefer to stick to this rule in UK English too.
39 mins
|
| agree |
María Eugenia Wachtendorff
: I fully agree with you if you are talking about various companies.
40 mins
|
4 mins
María Eugenia Wachtendorff
Chile
Chile
Chile
40 Years Business, Legal, Certificates
Native in: Spanish
Works in: English to Spanish, Spanish, Spanish to English
mientras el personal monitorea/controla el sitio
Most likely... digo yo... :D
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Note added at 6 mins (2006-06-14 14:31:12 GMT)
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Sooorry, amigo. ¡Qué gansa mi respuesta! Creo que es uno de esos casos en que puedes usar singular o plural, indistintamente.
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Note added at 32 mins (2006-06-14 14:57:08 GMT)
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The Blue Book of Grammar and Punctuation
The word in front of who is men, which is plural. Therefore, use the plural verb do. Rule 14. Collective nouns such as team and staff may be either singular ...
www.grammarbook.com/grammar/subjectVerbAgree.asp - 19k - Cached - Similar pages
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Note added at 38 mins (2006-06-14 15:03:20 GMT)
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You know, this makes me think that the note George saw was posted by site staff, and - as it is almost the rule - that was a one-man-staff!
Undoubtedly, both options are right in this case, just as it would be right if I noted "either optionis right in this case."
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Note added at 39 mins (2006-06-14 15:03:58 GMT)
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Apologies about that typo: "option is right"!
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Note added at 6 mins (2006-06-14 14:31:12 GMT)
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Sooorry, amigo. ¡Qué gansa mi respuesta! Creo que es uno de esos casos en que puedes usar singular o plural, indistintamente.
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 32 mins (2006-06-14 14:57:08 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
The Blue Book of Grammar and Punctuation
The word in front of who is men, which is plural. Therefore, use the plural verb do. Rule 14. Collective nouns such as team and staff may be either singular ...
www.grammarbook.com/grammar/subjectVerbAgree.asp - 19k - Cached - Similar pages
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Note added at 38 mins (2006-06-14 15:03:20 GMT)
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You know, this makes me think that the note George saw was posted by site staff, and - as it is almost the rule - that was a one-man-staff!
Undoubtedly, both options are right in this case, just as it would be right if I noted "either optionis right in this case."
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Note added at 39 mins (2006-06-14 15:03:58 GMT)
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Apologies about that typo: "option is right"!
Note from asker:
| Hi MEW, and so do I, but I posted this as monolingual English. I have no doubts as far as the use in Spanish, but I wanted to confirm about the English... |
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