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

“A total of 10 babies is…” vs. “a total of 10 babies are…” vs. “Ten babies in total are…”Does “staff” take a plural verb?Pluralizing “personnel”?What is the meaning of “personnel”? What is its plural form?“How much is/are the two fares?”Neither is or are“Two are better than one” or “Two is better than one”?“Here is my two cents” vs “Here are my two cents”?“Page 6 of those two documents is/are significantly different.”Singular or plural verb with “a minimum of”“Kids is mean” or “kids are mean”?

3

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

edited 11 hours ago

sumelic

49.2k8116221

asked 13 hours ago

BrettABrettA

345

• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  Possible duplicate of "A total of 10 babies is..." vs. "a total of 10 babies are..." vs. "Ten babies in total are..."
  
  – Cody Gray
  7 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

3

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

edited 11 hours ago

sumelic

49.2k8116221

asked 13 hours ago

BrettABrettA

345

• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  Possible duplicate of "A total of 10 babies is..." vs. "a total of 10 babies are..." vs. "Ten babies in total are..."
  
  – Cody Gray
  7 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

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

edited 11 hours ago

sumelic

49.2k8116221

asked 13 hours ago

BrettABrettA

345

share|improve this question

edited 11 hours ago

sumelic

49.2k8116221

asked 13 hours ago

BrettABrettA

345

share|improve this question

edited 11 hours ago

sumelic

49.2k8116221

asked 13 hours ago

BrettABrettA

345

edited 11 hours ago

sumelic

49.2k8116221

edited 11 hours ago

sumelic

49.2k8116221

asked 13 hours ago

BrettABrettA

345

asked 13 hours ago

BrettABrettA

345

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.

2. 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

answered 12 hours ago

TuffyTuffy

3,9001620

add a comment | 

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

answered 12 hours ago

Mark HubbardMark Hubbard

6,18021131

add a comment | 

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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.

2. 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

answered 12 hours ago

TuffyTuffy

3,9001620

add a comment | 

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.

2. 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

answered 12 hours ago

TuffyTuffy

3,9001620

add a comment | 

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.

2. 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

answered 12 hours ago

TuffyTuffy

3,9001620

share|improve this answer

answered 12 hours ago

TuffyTuffy

3,9001620

answered 12 hours ago

TuffyTuffy

3,9001620

answered 12 hours ago

TuffyTuffy

3,9001620

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

answered 12 hours ago

Mark HubbardMark Hubbard

6,18021131

add a comment | 

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

answered 12 hours ago

Mark HubbardMark Hubbard

6,18021131

add a comment | 

"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

answered 12 hours ago

Mark HubbardMark Hubbard

6,18021131

share|improve this answer

answered 12 hours ago

Mark HubbardMark Hubbard

6,18021131

answered 12 hours ago

Mark HubbardMark Hubbard

6,18021131

answered 12 hours ago

Mark HubbardMark Hubbard

6,18021131