A minimum of two personnel “are” or “is”?












4















Which is correct?



A minimum of two personnel are required to meet this objective.



or



A minimum of two personnel is required to meet this objective.






grammatical-number verb-agreement irregular-plurals







share|improve this question

























  • Possible duplicate of "A total of 10 babies is..." vs. "a total of 10 babies are..." vs. "Ten babies in total are..."

    – Cody Gray
    1 hour ago
















4















Which is correct?



A minimum of two personnel are required to meet this objective.



or



A minimum of two personnel is required to meet this objective.






grammatical-number verb-agreement irregular-plurals







share|improve this question

























  • Possible duplicate of "A total of 10 babies is..." vs. "a total of 10 babies are..." vs. "Ten babies in total are..."

    – Cody Gray
    1 hour ago














4












4








4


1






Which is correct?



A minimum of two personnel are required to meet this objective.



or



A minimum of two personnel is required to meet this objective.






grammatical-number verb-agreement irregular-plurals







share|improve this question
















Which is correct?



A minimum of two personnel are required to meet this objective.



or



A minimum of two personnel is required to meet this objective.






grammatical-number verb-agreement irregular-plurals




grammatical-number verb-agreement irregular-plurals






share|improve this question















share|improve this question













share|improve this question




share|improve this question








edited 4 hours ago









sumelic

49.2k8116221




49.2k8116221










asked 6 hours ago









BrettABrettA

365




365













  • Possible duplicate of "A total of 10 babies is..." vs. "a total of 10 babies are..." vs. "Ten babies in total are..."

    – Cody Gray
    1 hour ago



















  • Possible duplicate of "A total of 10 babies is..." vs. "a total of 10 babies are..." vs. "Ten babies in total are..."

    – Cody Gray
    1 hour ago

















Possible duplicate of "A total of 10 babies is..." vs. "a total of 10 babies are..." vs. "Ten babies in total are..."

– Cody Gray
1 hour ago





Possible duplicate of "A total of 10 babies is..." vs. "a total of 10 babies are..." vs. "Ten babies in total are..."

– Cody Gray
1 hour ago










2 Answers
2






active

oldest

votes


















6














Your question relates to a common ‘singular versus plural’ dilemma, where there is a reasonable case for each.




1 A minimum of two personnel are required to ....




It is tempting to say that the plural “two personnel” is embedded in the singular “a minimum” and so the copula should be plural.





  1. A minimum of two personnel is required...




“A minimum” (singular) is the grammatical subject of the copula and so the copula should be singular (is).



Think of other ways of saying this.




what is required ... is a minimum of two personnel.




The standard answer to such dilemmas is to say it depends whether the writer is thinking of the singular unit or the plural members of it. But the decision to plump for one or the other is ultimately arbitrary. To some one feels wrong, to others the other does. So I have chosen to say it doesn’t matter.



Except either of the alternatives will bother somebody. So a principle (which I admit has no support in grammatical law) of ‘being considerate to the audience’ should apply: rephrase it entirely. And one is ready to hand (and briefer too):-




At least two people are required ....







share|improve this answer































    4














    "A minimum of two personnel are required to meet this objective" is correct, even though the word "minimum" may be read as singular.



    For an explanation regarding a similar question, please read @Jimi Oke's excellent answer here.






    share|improve this answer























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      2 Answers
      2






      active

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      2 Answers
      2






      active

      oldest

      votes









      active

      oldest

      votes






      active

      oldest

      votes









      6














      Your question relates to a common ‘singular versus plural’ dilemma, where there is a reasonable case for each.




      1 A minimum of two personnel are required to ....




      It is tempting to say that the plural “two personnel” is embedded in the singular “a minimum” and so the copula should be plural.





      1. A minimum of two personnel is required...




      “A minimum” (singular) is the grammatical subject of the copula and so the copula should be singular (is).



      Think of other ways of saying this.




      what is required ... is a minimum of two personnel.




      The standard answer to such dilemmas is to say it depends whether the writer is thinking of the singular unit or the plural members of it. But the decision to plump for one or the other is ultimately arbitrary. To some one feels wrong, to others the other does. So I have chosen to say it doesn’t matter.



      Except either of the alternatives will bother somebody. So a principle (which I admit has no support in grammatical law) of ‘being considerate to the audience’ should apply: rephrase it entirely. And one is ready to hand (and briefer too):-




      At least two people are required ....







      share|improve this answer




























        6














        Your question relates to a common ‘singular versus plural’ dilemma, where there is a reasonable case for each.




        1 A minimum of two personnel are required to ....




        It is tempting to say that the plural “two personnel” is embedded in the singular “a minimum” and so the copula should be plural.





        1. A minimum of two personnel is required...




        “A minimum” (singular) is the grammatical subject of the copula and so the copula should be singular (is).



        Think of other ways of saying this.




        what is required ... is a minimum of two personnel.




        The standard answer to such dilemmas is to say it depends whether the writer is thinking of the singular unit or the plural members of it. But the decision to plump for one or the other is ultimately arbitrary. To some one feels wrong, to others the other does. So I have chosen to say it doesn’t matter.



        Except either of the alternatives will bother somebody. So a principle (which I admit has no support in grammatical law) of ‘being considerate to the audience’ should apply: rephrase it entirely. And one is ready to hand (and briefer too):-




        At least two people are required ....







        share|improve this answer


























          6












          6








          6







          Your question relates to a common ‘singular versus plural’ dilemma, where there is a reasonable case for each.




          1 A minimum of two personnel are required to ....




          It is tempting to say that the plural “two personnel” is embedded in the singular “a minimum” and so the copula should be plural.





          1. A minimum of two personnel is required...




          “A minimum” (singular) is the grammatical subject of the copula and so the copula should be singular (is).



          Think of other ways of saying this.




          what is required ... is a minimum of two personnel.




          The standard answer to such dilemmas is to say it depends whether the writer is thinking of the singular unit or the plural members of it. But the decision to plump for one or the other is ultimately arbitrary. To some one feels wrong, to others the other does. So I have chosen to say it doesn’t matter.



          Except either of the alternatives will bother somebody. So a principle (which I admit has no support in grammatical law) of ‘being considerate to the audience’ should apply: rephrase it entirely. And one is ready to hand (and briefer too):-




          At least two people are required ....







          share|improve this answer













          Your question relates to a common ‘singular versus plural’ dilemma, where there is a reasonable case for each.




          1 A minimum of two personnel are required to ....




          It is tempting to say that the plural “two personnel” is embedded in the singular “a minimum” and so the copula should be plural.





          1. A minimum of two personnel is required...




          “A minimum” (singular) is the grammatical subject of the copula and so the copula should be singular (is).



          Think of other ways of saying this.




          what is required ... is a minimum of two personnel.




          The standard answer to such dilemmas is to say it depends whether the writer is thinking of the singular unit or the plural members of it. But the decision to plump for one or the other is ultimately arbitrary. To some one feels wrong, to others the other does. So I have chosen to say it doesn’t matter.



          Except either of the alternatives will bother somebody. So a principle (which I admit has no support in grammatical law) of ‘being considerate to the audience’ should apply: rephrase it entirely. And one is ready to hand (and briefer too):-




          At least two people are required ....








          share|improve this answer












          share|improve this answer



          share|improve this answer










          answered 5 hours ago









          TuffyTuffy

          3,8991620




          3,8991620

























              4














              "A minimum of two personnel are required to meet this objective" is correct, even though the word "minimum" may be read as singular.



              For an explanation regarding a similar question, please read @Jimi Oke's excellent answer here.






              share|improve this answer




























                4














                "A minimum of two personnel are required to meet this objective" is correct, even though the word "minimum" may be read as singular.



                For an explanation regarding a similar question, please read @Jimi Oke's excellent answer here.






                share|improve this answer


























                  4












                  4








                  4







                  "A minimum of two personnel are required to meet this objective" is correct, even though the word "minimum" may be read as singular.



                  For an explanation regarding a similar question, please read @Jimi Oke's excellent answer here.






                  share|improve this answer













                  "A minimum of two personnel are required to meet this objective" is correct, even though the word "minimum" may be read as singular.



                  For an explanation regarding a similar question, please read @Jimi Oke's excellent answer here.







                  share|improve this answer












                  share|improve this answer



                  share|improve this answer










                  answered 6 hours ago









                  Mark HubbardMark Hubbard

                  6,18021131




                  6,18021131






























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