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The Mayfield Handbook of Technical & Scientific Writing
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Section 6.8.1.5

Quantifiers

Quantifiers include words such as all, most, many, more, some, none, few, both, each, and every. Some quantifiers are singular, some are plural, and some may be either. Be sure to choose an appropriate verb whenever the subject includes a quantifier. When you use a quantifier to modify an uncountable (mass) noun, choose a singular verb.


Unacceptable

In a given location, more solar energy reach the earth's surface on a clear, long day than on a day that is clear but much shorter.

Acceptable

In a given location, more solar energy reaches the earth's surface on a clear, long day than on a day that is clear but much shorter.

--C. Donald Ahrens, Meteorology Today (modified)


Use a plural verb when you modify a countable noun with one of the following quantifiers: all, most, many, some, few, both.


Unacceptable

Some hibernating turtles holds their breath all winter long.

Acceptable

Some hibernating turtles hold their breath all winter long.

--"Take It or Leave It," Valley Comic News

Unacceptable

Many chemical sensors relies on electrochemical principles, whereby the relevant chemical species induces a change in electrical current or voltage at an electrode.

Acceptable

Many chemical sensors rely on electrochemical principles, whereby the relevant chemical species induces a change in electrical current or voltage at an electrode.

--Philip Ball, Designing the Molecular World


When you use a quantifier followed by of, choose a verb that agrees in number with the noun that follows the quantifier.


Unacceptable

More than half of the whales in the world is less than 15 feet long.

Acceptable

More than half of the whales in the world are less than 15 feet long.

--"Take It or Leave It," Valley Comic News

Unacceptable

Some of the water contain deuterium.

Acceptable

Some of the water contains deuterium.


The quantifiers one, each and every normally take singular verbs, whether or not they are followed by of.


Unacceptable

Every wild creature need a certain amount of territory for its survival, and the grown tiger is said to need more than any other land animal.

Acceptable

Every wild creature needs a certain amount of territory for its survival, and the grown tiger is said to need more than any other land animal.

--"Take It or Leave It," Valley Comic News

Unacceptable

In contrast to ordinary light, which vibrates in all directions at right angles to the line of propagation, a light ray that penetrates calcite is broken into two rays by the internal structure of the crystal, and each of the two rays that pass through the crystal vibrate in only one plane. Light so modified that it vibrates in only one plane is said to be polarized.

Acceptable

In contrast to ordinary light, which vibrates in all directions at right angles to the line of propagation, a light ray that penetrates calcite is broken into two rays by the internal structure of the crystal, and each of the two rays that pass through the crystal vibrates in only one plane. Light so modified that it vibrates in only one plane is said to be polarized.

--James Gilluly, Principles of Geology (modified)

Unacceptable

Each stage bring environmental destruction as the usual by-product, in the form of pollution and the destruction of land and ecologies.

Acceptable

Each stage brings environmental destruction as the usual by-product, in the form of pollution and the destruction of land and ecologies.

--Kai Wu, "Prometheus Returns," SciTech Magazine


After a coordinate noun phrase (two or more nouns joined by a coordinating conjunction such as and) beginning with each or every, use a singular verb.


Unacceptable

Each man and woman who applied for the position were considered carefully.

Acceptable

Each man and woman who applied for the position was considered carefully.

Special case: When each follows a plural noun or pronoun or a compound subject (two or more nouns or pronouns joined by the coordinate conjunction and), use a plural verb.


Unacceptable

They each is applying for the position.

Tom and Jeannine each is applying for the position.

Acceptable

They each are applying for the position.

Tom and Jeannine each are applying for the position.


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