Anonymous Posted 16 years ago
Grammar
IMPOSSIBLE subject/verb agreement challenge dealing w/ fractional expressions
Writing copy and this phrase is giving me a headache. Which is it, singular or plural?
"When 99% of dirt and toxins MEET a better cleanser..."
OR
"When 99% of dirt and toxins MEETS a better cleanser..."
LOOK CLOSELY. This is a hard one. I was an English major along with copywriting I also teach English, so I'm very familiar with grammatical conundrums. This one, however, is quite difficult. The rules on this are a bit hazy, but I know there's a right and a wrong:
"99% of...." is a fractional expression, so the modifying verb must agree. However, when the subject is referring to something else, the singular/plural nature of the verb depends on the singular/plural of that something.
In this case, I think that:
1) SINCE the "99%" fractional is a majority and could easily be translated as "most of..."
2) SINCE the subject refers to something plural "dirt and toxins"
3) THEN the verb must agree and become singular,
THEREFORE: "When 99% of dirt and toxins MEETS a better cleanser..."
Am I wrong on this? PLEASE help me out (I've got money on it...)
Thanks,
T. G.
"When 99% of dirt and toxins MEET a better cleanser..."
OR
"When 99% of dirt and toxins MEETS a better cleanser..."
LOOK CLOSELY. This is a hard one. I was an English major along with copywriting I also teach English, so I'm very familiar with grammatical conundrums. This one, however, is quite difficult. The rules on this are a bit hazy, but I know there's a right and a wrong:
"99% of...." is a fractional expression, so the modifying verb must agree. However, when the subject is referring to something else, the singular/plural nature of the verb depends on the singular/plural of that something.
In this case, I think that:
1) SINCE the "99%" fractional is a majority and could easily be translated as "most of..."
2) SINCE the subject refers to something plural "dirt and toxins"
3) THEN the verb must agree and become singular,
THEREFORE: "When 99% of dirt and toxins MEETS a better cleanser..."
Am I wrong on this? PLEASE help me out (I've got money on it...)
Thanks,
T. G.
Top answer
Here is the advice from Yale graduate school writing center: When an –of phrase follows a percentage, distance, fraction, or amount, the verb agrees with the noun closest to the verb. Ex: Half of the tables are occupied. 21% of the population is poor.
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Here is the advice from Yale graduate school writing center:
When an –of phrase follows a percentage, distance, fraction, or amount, the verb agrees with the noun closest to the verb.
Ex:
Half of the tables are occupied.
21% of the population is poor.
21% of the books are paperback.
With a collective noun, use either a singular or a plural verb, depen
When an –of phrase follows a percentage, distance, fraction, or amount, the verb agrees with the noun closest to the verb.
Ex:
Half of the tables are occupied.
21% of the population is poor.
21% of the books are paperback.
With a collective noun, use either a singular or a plural verb, depen
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