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












2















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.










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    2















    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.










    share|improve this question



























      2












      2








      2


      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.










      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






      share|improve this question















      share|improve this question













      share|improve this question




      share|improve this question








      edited 1 hour ago









      sumelic

      49.2k8116221




      49.2k8116221










      asked 3 hours ago









      BrettABrettA

      265




      265






















          2 Answers
          2






          active

          oldest

          votes


















          3














          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































            3














            "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

              oldest

              votes








              2 Answers
              2






              active

              oldest

              votes









              active

              oldest

              votes






              active

              oldest

              votes









              3














              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




























                3














                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


























                  3












                  3








                  3







                  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 2 hours ago









                  TuffyTuffy

                  3,8691620




                  3,8691620

























                      3














                      "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




























                        3














                        "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


























                          3












                          3








                          3







                          "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 3 hours ago









                          Mark HubbardMark Hubbard

                          6,17021131




                          6,17021131






























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