Skip to main content
English Language & Usage

Return to Question

Post Closed as "Duplicate" by Edwin Ashworth, tchrist♦, Chenmunka, Drew, Nick2253
edited tags
Link
Thursagen
Thursagen
  • 42.2k
  • 44
  • 173
  • 243
minor formatting; absorbed link; added tag
Source Link
MrHen
MrHen
  • 35.9k
  • 32
  • 125
  • 265

in In special cases, can you use "one such family are" vs. "one such family is"?

Is it correct to say "one such family are..." as opposed to "one such family is..." in some circumstances?

Say, for instance, as used in the article here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gene_familythis article on gene families:

[...] One such family are the genes for human haemoglobin subunits; [...]

The problem occurs when the family is a collection of things. It sounds weird if you say "One such family is the genes for human haemoglobin subunits" and saying "One such family is the family of genes for human haemoglobin subunits" is too wordy.

Does the problem make sense?

in special cases, can you use "one such family are" vs. "one such family is"?

Is it correct to say "one such family are..." as opposed to "one such family is..." in some circumstances?

Say, for instance as used in the article here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gene_family

[...] One such family are the genes for human haemoglobin subunits; [...]

The problem occurs when the family is a collection of things. It sounds weird if you say "One such family is the genes for human haemoglobin subunits" and saying "One such family is the family of genes for human haemoglobin subunits" is too wordy.

Does the problem make sense?

In special cases, can you use "one such family are" vs. "one such family is"?

Is it correct to say "one such family are..." as opposed to "one such family is..." in some circumstances?

Say, for instance, as used in this article on gene families:

[...] One such family are the genes for human haemoglobin subunits; [...]

The problem occurs when the family is a collection of things. It sounds weird if you say "One such family is the genes for human haemoglobin subunits" and saying "One such family is the family of genes for human haemoglobin subunits" is too wordy.

Does the problem make sense?

added 290 characters in body; edited title; deleted 5 characters in body; edited title
Source Link
Michael
Michael
  • 1.3k
  • 3
  • 11
  • 9

one in special cases, can you use "one such family are..are" vs. (correct in some circumstances"one such family is"?)

Is it correct to say "one such family are..." as opposed to "one such family is..." in some circumstances?

Say, for instance as used in the article here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gene_family

[...] One such family are the genes for human haemoglobin subunits; [...]

The problem occurs when the family is a collection of things. It sounds weird if you say "One such family is the genes for human haemoglobin subunits" and saying "One such family is the family of genes for human haemoglobin subunits" is too wordy.

Does the problem make sense?

one such family are... (correct in some circumstances?)

Is it correct to say "one such family are..." as opposed to "one such family is..." in some circumstances?

Say, for instance as used in the article here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gene_family

[...] One such family are the genes for human haemoglobin subunits; [...]

in special cases, can you use "one such family are" vs. "one such family is"?

Is it correct to say "one such family are..." as opposed to "one such family is..." in some circumstances?

Say, for instance as used in the article here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gene_family

[...] One such family are the genes for human haemoglobin subunits; [...]

The problem occurs when the family is a collection of things. It sounds weird if you say "One such family is the genes for human haemoglobin subunits" and saying "One such family is the family of genes for human haemoglobin subunits" is too wordy.

Does the problem make sense?

Source Link
Michael
Michael
  • 1.3k
  • 3
  • 11
  • 9