A friend of mine asked me if it was right to say the “staff are or staff is,” but I replied and made him understand that it depends on the context of usage.
“Staff,” as the case may be, is a collective noun. A collective noun is a noun that describes several people or things. Example: Staff, group, team, etc.
Collective nouns can be confusing because they can seem to be both singular and plural, all depending on the context of usage.
As you read through this article, I will help you understand the difference between the usage of “staff are or staff is”. So read along.
Staff are or Staff is
“Staff is” is best used when the “staff” is acting as a single unit. In a situation where the staff in question is an individual, “staff is” is the correct format.
Example:
- One of my staff is traveling to Dubai to complete the deal on the bridge construction project.
- The only staff that is allowed to enter the bulk room is Mrs. Jane.
- Being a staff at Becky’s Restaurant isn’t stressful at all.
These three examples work well with a singular verb because it only refers to an individual.
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Staff are or Staff is
“Staff are” is best used when the “staff” is acting as a plural unit. In a situation where the staff in question refers to a group of people, “staff are” is the correct format.
Examples:
- The entire staff working at Micky’s Restaurant are grateful for your charitable deeds.
- All staff are expected to be at work before 8 am.
These three examples work well with a plural verb because it refers to a group of people.
FAQs on Staff are or Staff is
Both can be correct. In American English, “staff” is often treated as a singular noun, so “Staff is” would be used. In British English, collective nouns like “staff” can be plural, so “Staff are” might be preferred.
For an American audience, it’s common to use “Staff is” because collective nouns are typically treated as singular.
British English commonly treats collective nouns as plural, so “Staff are” would often be the preferred choice.
No, the choice between “Staff are” and “Staff is” doesn’t change the overall meaning. However, it may indicate the writer’s regional language preference.
Awesome one; I hope this article answers your question.
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