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I have the following sentence and I need your help:

"This and the previous case study show the benefits of optimization approaches."

Is it correct to use the singular for 'case study' altough I am referring to two case study/studies? I'd appreciate every comment.

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  • 1
    This, and all previous case studies (two or more) have shown that...
    – Centaurus
    Apr 18, 2020 at 14:27
  • Yep, should be plural in that context.
    – Hot Licks
    Apr 18, 2020 at 14:43
  • 1
    It depends. (This and the previous) case studies ... // This and (the previous case study) ....
    – Lawrence
    Apr 18, 2020 at 14:45
  • This is unclear, as the comments indicate. Is the total number of case studies 2, or more?
    – Cascabel_StandWithUkraine_
    Apr 18, 2020 at 14:49
  • Thanks all for your answers. The total number of case studies is 3. But only on 2 the benefits are shown.
    – PeterBe
    Apr 18, 2020 at 14:53

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"This and the previous case study show the benefits of optimization approaches" means there are two case studies that have shown the benefits, "this" case study, and some other one. It isn't clear from the sentence whether there are any other case studies.

It is correct to use the singular because in that sentence "the previous case study" is one case study. From the structure, we understand that the sentence means, "This case study and the previous case study..."

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