tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1545678927399679388.post7081460692606627611..comments2023-11-02T05:46:21.988-04:00Comments on Michael's English Usage: CORRECTIONS & EXPLANATIONS - January 27, 2008Michael Lyonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06465195400605256200noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1545678927399679388.post-13792730355283716442008-01-29T12:54:00.000-05:002008-01-29T12:54:00.000-05:00The American Heritage Dictionary says the followin...The American Heritage Dictionary says the following about PERCENT (copied from http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/percent):<BR/><BR/><B>Percent can take a singular or plural verb, depending on how the quantity being described is viewed. Very often what determines the form of the verb is the noun nearest to it. Thus one might say <I>Eighty percent of the legislators are going to vote against the bill</I> or <I>Eighty percent of the legislature is set to vote the bill down.</I> In the second sentence the group of legislators is considered as a body, not as individuals. When percent is used without a following prepositional phrase, either a singular or plural verb is acceptable.</B><BR/><BR/>Therefore, since "colonies" (the so-called nearest noun) is plural, it cannot be deemed incorrect to use "were" instead of "was" in the sentence illustrated.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1545678927399679388.post-3238082917803908302008-01-29T12:49:00.000-05:002008-01-29T12:49:00.000-05:00PERCENT is listed by the American Heritage Diction...PERCENT is listed by the American Heritage Dictionary as a plural noun. Therefore, the argument that 30% is a single collection and must be conjugated with a singular verb is not entirely accurate. Basically, it depends on the context (text copied from http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/percent):<BR/><BR/>per·cent also per cent (pər-sěnt') <BR/><BR/>n. <BR/>pl. percent also per cent One part in a hundred: <I>The report states that 42 percent of the alumni contributed to the endowment.</I> Also called per centum. <BR/><BR/><B>Usage Note:</B> Statistically speaking, a quantity can be increased by any percentage but cannot be decreased by more than 100 percent. Once pollution has been reduced by 100 percent, for example, it ceases to exist. In defiance of this logic, however, advertisers sometimes refer to a 150 percent decrease in lost luggage or a new dental rinse that reduces plaque on teeth by over 300 percent. Presumably what is implied by the latter is that the new rinse is three times as effective as some other rinse, but such constructions are still subject to criticism as illogical. · <B>Percent can take a singular or plural verb, depending on how the quantity being described is viewed. Very often what determines the form of the verb is the noun nearest to it. Thus one might say <I>Eighty percent of the legislators are going to vote against the bill</I> or <I>Eighty percent of the legislature is set to vote the bill down.</I> In the second sentence the group of legislators is considered as a body, not as individuals. When percent is used without a following prepositional phrase, either a singular or plural verb is acceptable.</B><BR/><BR/>In this case, the so-called nearest noun, "colonies", is plural, so we can safely conclude that "were" instead of "was" is the preferred form.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com