bill bennett

journalism + new media

Companies are singular

with 7 comments

A company may be made up of many employees, but it is legally and grammatically a single entity.

Always use singular verbs with companies, even when the company name sounds plural. The same applies to countries, political parties, governments and partnerships. All are singular.

Some people think using they instead of it makes your writing more personal. Maybe. But being grammatically incorrect makes your writing and, more importantly, your meaning, unclear.

Resist all temptation to treat companies as plurals.

If you need a writer to help communicate your message, please contact me.

Written by Bill Bennett

April 30th, 2009 at 5:27 pm

7 Responses to 'Companies are singular'

  1. [...] Writing style tips: 1. Companies are singular (billbennettnz.wordpress.com) [...]

    FOUR WORDS « Serendipity DooDah

    5 Jun 09 at 5:07 am

  2. Agreed. Company is a singular entity.

    Anthony Caruana

    27 Jul 09 at 7:33 pm

  3. [...] Better writing: Companies are singular [...]

  4. [...] Better writing: Companies are singular [...]

  5. [...] reading: Better writing: Rhythm Better writing: Companies are singular Better writing: The inverted pyramid Better writing: Keep it simple Better writing: And Better [...]

  6. [...] reading: Better writing: Rhythm Better writing: Companies are singular Better writing: The inverted pyramid Better writing: And Better writing: Go easy on [...]

  7. [...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Bill Bennett, Ashley Campbell. Ashley Campbell said: RT @billbennettnz: Would it be rude of me to point out companies are singular? http://bit.ly/3GxxsX Not at all http://bit.ly/2PzRZJ [...]

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