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Is “staff” singular or plural?


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10















In the Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary there is an example for "get by":




We can get by with four computers at the moment, but we'll need a couple more when the new staff arrive.




(Emphasis changed.)



Shouldn't this be "arrives"?










share|improve this question









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oscar tabarez is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
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  • 3





    Reading the title, I thought the question was why we don't write "he's", "she's", or "it's" as the possessive pronouns.

    – David K
    15 hours ago











  • BrE has a practice of treating nouns for groups of people (even company or agency names) as plurals grammatically.

    – chrylis
    9 hours ago


















10















In the Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary there is an example for "get by":




We can get by with four computers at the moment, but we'll need a couple more when the new staff arrive.




(Emphasis changed.)



Shouldn't this be "arrives"?










share|improve this question









New contributor




oscar tabarez is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
















  • 3





    Reading the title, I thought the question was why we don't write "he's", "she's", or "it's" as the possessive pronouns.

    – David K
    15 hours ago











  • BrE has a practice of treating nouns for groups of people (even company or agency names) as plurals grammatically.

    – chrylis
    9 hours ago
















10












10








10


2






In the Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary there is an example for "get by":




We can get by with four computers at the moment, but we'll need a couple more when the new staff arrive.




(Emphasis changed.)



Shouldn't this be "arrives"?










share|improve this question









New contributor




oscar tabarez is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.












In the Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary there is an example for "get by":




We can get by with four computers at the moment, but we'll need a couple more when the new staff arrive.




(Emphasis changed.)



Shouldn't this be "arrives"?







singular-vs-plural subject-verb-agreement grammatical-number






share|improve this question









New contributor




oscar tabarez is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.











share|improve this question









New contributor




oscar tabarez is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.









share|improve this question




share|improve this question








edited 14 mins ago









Solomon Ucko

1094




1094






New contributor




oscar tabarez is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.









asked 18 hours ago









oscar tabarezoscar tabarez

533




533




New contributor




oscar tabarez is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.





New contributor





oscar tabarez is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.






oscar tabarez is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.








  • 3





    Reading the title, I thought the question was why we don't write "he's", "she's", or "it's" as the possessive pronouns.

    – David K
    15 hours ago











  • BrE has a practice of treating nouns for groups of people (even company or agency names) as plurals grammatically.

    – chrylis
    9 hours ago
















  • 3





    Reading the title, I thought the question was why we don't write "he's", "she's", or "it's" as the possessive pronouns.

    – David K
    15 hours ago











  • BrE has a practice of treating nouns for groups of people (even company or agency names) as plurals grammatically.

    – chrylis
    9 hours ago










3




3





Reading the title, I thought the question was why we don't write "he's", "she's", or "it's" as the possessive pronouns.

– David K
15 hours ago





Reading the title, I thought the question was why we don't write "he's", "she's", or "it's" as the possessive pronouns.

– David K
15 hours ago













BrE has a practice of treating nouns for groups of people (even company or agency names) as plurals grammatically.

– chrylis
9 hours ago







BrE has a practice of treating nouns for groups of people (even company or agency names) as plurals grammatically.

– chrylis
9 hours ago












3 Answers
3






active

oldest

votes


















5














EDIT



I see from comments and from the answer by @Kshitij Singh that my answer does not cover all cases. I may have to rethink it.





It is a very good question. You can think of staff as an irregular plural.



We can correctly say:



When the sheep arrives we will put it in the paddock.



When the sheep arrive we can put them in the paddock.



This is is because 'sheep' is the plural of 'sheep'.



In the case of "staff", it acts as an irregular plural that has no singular form! The singular is "staff member".





Here you can see the usage in a dictionary:




Meaning of staff in English
Contents staff noun UK ​ /stɑːf/ US ​ /stæf/ staff noun (PEOPLE) ​ A2 [ S, + sing/pl verb ] the group of people who work for
an organization:



There is a good relationship between staff and pupils at the school.



The staff are not very happy about the latest pay increase.



There are over a hundred staff in the company.



He is on (= a member of) the editorial staff of the magazine.



https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/staff






Note that if you use 'staff' as a singular noun then you are indicating that it means a long substantial walking stick.




[ C ] formal a long, strong stick held in the hand that is used as a
support when walking, as a weapon, or as a symbol of authority



https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/staff







share|improve this answer





















  • 3





    Lots of US-centric style guides and grammar sites and blogs obstinately maintain that 'staff' is always singular. The issue also affects company names, teams, etc.

    – Michael Harvey
    17 hours ago






  • 2





    @chasly - yes, exactly. Americans would say that.

    – Michael Harvey
    17 hours ago






  • 1





    @chasly, you should address the OP's confusion by mentioning that staff is singular-only in American English, and may be singular or plural in British English. I am surprised you did not know this.

    – Michael Harvey
    17 hours ago






  • 1





    As an American, “staff” and “team” behave like singular nouns for me, so this is accurate.

    – Mixolydian
    16 hours ago






  • 1





    I didn't say there was anything wrong with "he is on the staff." I'm just saying that it would seem odd to me if "staff" were considered a plural noun in that usage. For example, would you write, "The staff are improved now that he is on them"? I would have written "is" and "it". Is that just an American thing?

    – David K
    10 hours ago



















6














In British English staff can be singular or plural. If it is the subject of a verb, this verb is plural.




The staff in this shop are very helpful.







share|improve this answer
























  • Could you give an example where staff (meaning a number of workers) is singular?

    – chasly from UK
    17 hours ago











  • A staff of ten.

    – Kshitij Singh
    17 hours ago











  • Hmm... You're right. I'll have to rethink.

    – chasly from UK
    16 hours ago



















1














In American English, I think both would be acceptable. Either the sentence is treating "the staff" as one entity, which is fine, or "the staff" as multiple staff members (or "staffers").



It reminds me of how the United States used to be plural until after the American Civil War ("The US are" vs "the US is"). A similar case would be "cast" (theatrical); "The cast is all college students" is acceptable, and "the cast put on the show once a night" is also perfectly fine, for example.






share|improve this answer























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    3 Answers
    3






    active

    oldest

    votes








    3 Answers
    3






    active

    oldest

    votes









    active

    oldest

    votes






    active

    oldest

    votes









    5














    EDIT



    I see from comments and from the answer by @Kshitij Singh that my answer does not cover all cases. I may have to rethink it.





    It is a very good question. You can think of staff as an irregular plural.



    We can correctly say:



    When the sheep arrives we will put it in the paddock.



    When the sheep arrive we can put them in the paddock.



    This is is because 'sheep' is the plural of 'sheep'.



    In the case of "staff", it acts as an irregular plural that has no singular form! The singular is "staff member".





    Here you can see the usage in a dictionary:




    Meaning of staff in English
    Contents staff noun UK ​ /stɑːf/ US ​ /stæf/ staff noun (PEOPLE) ​ A2 [ S, + sing/pl verb ] the group of people who work for
    an organization:



    There is a good relationship between staff and pupils at the school.



    The staff are not very happy about the latest pay increase.



    There are over a hundred staff in the company.



    He is on (= a member of) the editorial staff of the magazine.



    https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/staff






    Note that if you use 'staff' as a singular noun then you are indicating that it means a long substantial walking stick.




    [ C ] formal a long, strong stick held in the hand that is used as a
    support when walking, as a weapon, or as a symbol of authority



    https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/staff







    share|improve this answer





















    • 3





      Lots of US-centric style guides and grammar sites and blogs obstinately maintain that 'staff' is always singular. The issue also affects company names, teams, etc.

      – Michael Harvey
      17 hours ago






    • 2





      @chasly - yes, exactly. Americans would say that.

      – Michael Harvey
      17 hours ago






    • 1





      @chasly, you should address the OP's confusion by mentioning that staff is singular-only in American English, and may be singular or plural in British English. I am surprised you did not know this.

      – Michael Harvey
      17 hours ago






    • 1





      As an American, “staff” and “team” behave like singular nouns for me, so this is accurate.

      – Mixolydian
      16 hours ago






    • 1





      I didn't say there was anything wrong with "he is on the staff." I'm just saying that it would seem odd to me if "staff" were considered a plural noun in that usage. For example, would you write, "The staff are improved now that he is on them"? I would have written "is" and "it". Is that just an American thing?

      – David K
      10 hours ago
















    5














    EDIT



    I see from comments and from the answer by @Kshitij Singh that my answer does not cover all cases. I may have to rethink it.





    It is a very good question. You can think of staff as an irregular plural.



    We can correctly say:



    When the sheep arrives we will put it in the paddock.



    When the sheep arrive we can put them in the paddock.



    This is is because 'sheep' is the plural of 'sheep'.



    In the case of "staff", it acts as an irregular plural that has no singular form! The singular is "staff member".





    Here you can see the usage in a dictionary:




    Meaning of staff in English
    Contents staff noun UK ​ /stɑːf/ US ​ /stæf/ staff noun (PEOPLE) ​ A2 [ S, + sing/pl verb ] the group of people who work for
    an organization:



    There is a good relationship between staff and pupils at the school.



    The staff are not very happy about the latest pay increase.



    There are over a hundred staff in the company.



    He is on (= a member of) the editorial staff of the magazine.



    https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/staff






    Note that if you use 'staff' as a singular noun then you are indicating that it means a long substantial walking stick.




    [ C ] formal a long, strong stick held in the hand that is used as a
    support when walking, as a weapon, or as a symbol of authority



    https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/staff







    share|improve this answer





















    • 3





      Lots of US-centric style guides and grammar sites and blogs obstinately maintain that 'staff' is always singular. The issue also affects company names, teams, etc.

      – Michael Harvey
      17 hours ago






    • 2





      @chasly - yes, exactly. Americans would say that.

      – Michael Harvey
      17 hours ago






    • 1





      @chasly, you should address the OP's confusion by mentioning that staff is singular-only in American English, and may be singular or plural in British English. I am surprised you did not know this.

      – Michael Harvey
      17 hours ago






    • 1





      As an American, “staff” and “team” behave like singular nouns for me, so this is accurate.

      – Mixolydian
      16 hours ago






    • 1





      I didn't say there was anything wrong with "he is on the staff." I'm just saying that it would seem odd to me if "staff" were considered a plural noun in that usage. For example, would you write, "The staff are improved now that he is on them"? I would have written "is" and "it". Is that just an American thing?

      – David K
      10 hours ago














    5












    5








    5







    EDIT



    I see from comments and from the answer by @Kshitij Singh that my answer does not cover all cases. I may have to rethink it.





    It is a very good question. You can think of staff as an irregular plural.



    We can correctly say:



    When the sheep arrives we will put it in the paddock.



    When the sheep arrive we can put them in the paddock.



    This is is because 'sheep' is the plural of 'sheep'.



    In the case of "staff", it acts as an irregular plural that has no singular form! The singular is "staff member".





    Here you can see the usage in a dictionary:




    Meaning of staff in English
    Contents staff noun UK ​ /stɑːf/ US ​ /stæf/ staff noun (PEOPLE) ​ A2 [ S, + sing/pl verb ] the group of people who work for
    an organization:



    There is a good relationship between staff and pupils at the school.



    The staff are not very happy about the latest pay increase.



    There are over a hundred staff in the company.



    He is on (= a member of) the editorial staff of the magazine.



    https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/staff






    Note that if you use 'staff' as a singular noun then you are indicating that it means a long substantial walking stick.




    [ C ] formal a long, strong stick held in the hand that is used as a
    support when walking, as a weapon, or as a symbol of authority



    https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/staff







    share|improve this answer















    EDIT



    I see from comments and from the answer by @Kshitij Singh that my answer does not cover all cases. I may have to rethink it.





    It is a very good question. You can think of staff as an irregular plural.



    We can correctly say:



    When the sheep arrives we will put it in the paddock.



    When the sheep arrive we can put them in the paddock.



    This is is because 'sheep' is the plural of 'sheep'.



    In the case of "staff", it acts as an irregular plural that has no singular form! The singular is "staff member".





    Here you can see the usage in a dictionary:




    Meaning of staff in English
    Contents staff noun UK ​ /stɑːf/ US ​ /stæf/ staff noun (PEOPLE) ​ A2 [ S, + sing/pl verb ] the group of people who work for
    an organization:



    There is a good relationship between staff and pupils at the school.



    The staff are not very happy about the latest pay increase.



    There are over a hundred staff in the company.



    He is on (= a member of) the editorial staff of the magazine.



    https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/staff






    Note that if you use 'staff' as a singular noun then you are indicating that it means a long substantial walking stick.




    [ C ] formal a long, strong stick held in the hand that is used as a
    support when walking, as a weapon, or as a symbol of authority



    https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/staff








    share|improve this answer














    share|improve this answer



    share|improve this answer








    edited 16 hours ago

























    answered 18 hours ago









    chasly from UKchasly from UK

    2,742313




    2,742313








    • 3





      Lots of US-centric style guides and grammar sites and blogs obstinately maintain that 'staff' is always singular. The issue also affects company names, teams, etc.

      – Michael Harvey
      17 hours ago






    • 2





      @chasly - yes, exactly. Americans would say that.

      – Michael Harvey
      17 hours ago






    • 1





      @chasly, you should address the OP's confusion by mentioning that staff is singular-only in American English, and may be singular or plural in British English. I am surprised you did not know this.

      – Michael Harvey
      17 hours ago






    • 1





      As an American, “staff” and “team” behave like singular nouns for me, so this is accurate.

      – Mixolydian
      16 hours ago






    • 1





      I didn't say there was anything wrong with "he is on the staff." I'm just saying that it would seem odd to me if "staff" were considered a plural noun in that usage. For example, would you write, "The staff are improved now that he is on them"? I would have written "is" and "it". Is that just an American thing?

      – David K
      10 hours ago














    • 3





      Lots of US-centric style guides and grammar sites and blogs obstinately maintain that 'staff' is always singular. The issue also affects company names, teams, etc.

      – Michael Harvey
      17 hours ago






    • 2





      @chasly - yes, exactly. Americans would say that.

      – Michael Harvey
      17 hours ago






    • 1





      @chasly, you should address the OP's confusion by mentioning that staff is singular-only in American English, and may be singular or plural in British English. I am surprised you did not know this.

      – Michael Harvey
      17 hours ago






    • 1





      As an American, “staff” and “team” behave like singular nouns for me, so this is accurate.

      – Mixolydian
      16 hours ago






    • 1





      I didn't say there was anything wrong with "he is on the staff." I'm just saying that it would seem odd to me if "staff" were considered a plural noun in that usage. For example, would you write, "The staff are improved now that he is on them"? I would have written "is" and "it". Is that just an American thing?

      – David K
      10 hours ago








    3




    3





    Lots of US-centric style guides and grammar sites and blogs obstinately maintain that 'staff' is always singular. The issue also affects company names, teams, etc.

    – Michael Harvey
    17 hours ago





    Lots of US-centric style guides and grammar sites and blogs obstinately maintain that 'staff' is always singular. The issue also affects company names, teams, etc.

    – Michael Harvey
    17 hours ago




    2




    2





    @chasly - yes, exactly. Americans would say that.

    – Michael Harvey
    17 hours ago





    @chasly - yes, exactly. Americans would say that.

    – Michael Harvey
    17 hours ago




    1




    1





    @chasly, you should address the OP's confusion by mentioning that staff is singular-only in American English, and may be singular or plural in British English. I am surprised you did not know this.

    – Michael Harvey
    17 hours ago





    @chasly, you should address the OP's confusion by mentioning that staff is singular-only in American English, and may be singular or plural in British English. I am surprised you did not know this.

    – Michael Harvey
    17 hours ago




    1




    1





    As an American, “staff” and “team” behave like singular nouns for me, so this is accurate.

    – Mixolydian
    16 hours ago





    As an American, “staff” and “team” behave like singular nouns for me, so this is accurate.

    – Mixolydian
    16 hours ago




    1




    1





    I didn't say there was anything wrong with "he is on the staff." I'm just saying that it would seem odd to me if "staff" were considered a plural noun in that usage. For example, would you write, "The staff are improved now that he is on them"? I would have written "is" and "it". Is that just an American thing?

    – David K
    10 hours ago





    I didn't say there was anything wrong with "he is on the staff." I'm just saying that it would seem odd to me if "staff" were considered a plural noun in that usage. For example, would you write, "The staff are improved now that he is on them"? I would have written "is" and "it". Is that just an American thing?

    – David K
    10 hours ago













    6














    In British English staff can be singular or plural. If it is the subject of a verb, this verb is plural.




    The staff in this shop are very helpful.







    share|improve this answer
























    • Could you give an example where staff (meaning a number of workers) is singular?

      – chasly from UK
      17 hours ago











    • A staff of ten.

      – Kshitij Singh
      17 hours ago











    • Hmm... You're right. I'll have to rethink.

      – chasly from UK
      16 hours ago
















    6














    In British English staff can be singular or plural. If it is the subject of a verb, this verb is plural.




    The staff in this shop are very helpful.







    share|improve this answer
























    • Could you give an example where staff (meaning a number of workers) is singular?

      – chasly from UK
      17 hours ago











    • A staff of ten.

      – Kshitij Singh
      17 hours ago











    • Hmm... You're right. I'll have to rethink.

      – chasly from UK
      16 hours ago














    6












    6








    6







    In British English staff can be singular or plural. If it is the subject of a verb, this verb is plural.




    The staff in this shop are very helpful.







    share|improve this answer













    In British English staff can be singular or plural. If it is the subject of a verb, this verb is plural.




    The staff in this shop are very helpful.








    share|improve this answer












    share|improve this answer



    share|improve this answer










    answered 18 hours ago









    Kshitij SinghKshitij Singh

    1,254113




    1,254113













    • Could you give an example where staff (meaning a number of workers) is singular?

      – chasly from UK
      17 hours ago











    • A staff of ten.

      – Kshitij Singh
      17 hours ago











    • Hmm... You're right. I'll have to rethink.

      – chasly from UK
      16 hours ago



















    • Could you give an example where staff (meaning a number of workers) is singular?

      – chasly from UK
      17 hours ago











    • A staff of ten.

      – Kshitij Singh
      17 hours ago











    • Hmm... You're right. I'll have to rethink.

      – chasly from UK
      16 hours ago

















    Could you give an example where staff (meaning a number of workers) is singular?

    – chasly from UK
    17 hours ago





    Could you give an example where staff (meaning a number of workers) is singular?

    – chasly from UK
    17 hours ago













    A staff of ten.

    – Kshitij Singh
    17 hours ago





    A staff of ten.

    – Kshitij Singh
    17 hours ago













    Hmm... You're right. I'll have to rethink.

    – chasly from UK
    16 hours ago





    Hmm... You're right. I'll have to rethink.

    – chasly from UK
    16 hours ago











    1














    In American English, I think both would be acceptable. Either the sentence is treating "the staff" as one entity, which is fine, or "the staff" as multiple staff members (or "staffers").



    It reminds me of how the United States used to be plural until after the American Civil War ("The US are" vs "the US is"). A similar case would be "cast" (theatrical); "The cast is all college students" is acceptable, and "the cast put on the show once a night" is also perfectly fine, for example.






    share|improve this answer




























      1














      In American English, I think both would be acceptable. Either the sentence is treating "the staff" as one entity, which is fine, or "the staff" as multiple staff members (or "staffers").



      It reminds me of how the United States used to be plural until after the American Civil War ("The US are" vs "the US is"). A similar case would be "cast" (theatrical); "The cast is all college students" is acceptable, and "the cast put on the show once a night" is also perfectly fine, for example.






      share|improve this answer


























        1












        1








        1







        In American English, I think both would be acceptable. Either the sentence is treating "the staff" as one entity, which is fine, or "the staff" as multiple staff members (or "staffers").



        It reminds me of how the United States used to be plural until after the American Civil War ("The US are" vs "the US is"). A similar case would be "cast" (theatrical); "The cast is all college students" is acceptable, and "the cast put on the show once a night" is also perfectly fine, for example.






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        In American English, I think both would be acceptable. Either the sentence is treating "the staff" as one entity, which is fine, or "the staff" as multiple staff members (or "staffers").



        It reminds me of how the United States used to be plural until after the American Civil War ("The US are" vs "the US is"). A similar case would be "cast" (theatrical); "The cast is all college students" is acceptable, and "the cast put on the show once a night" is also perfectly fine, for example.







        share|improve this answer












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        share|improve this answer










        answered 13 hours ago









        user45266user45266

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