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See all MNHQ comments on this thread

Original poster

You know where it says "MNHQ have commented on this thread..."

65 replies

BitOutOfPractice · 10/09/2014 20:59

And then there's a link to where NMHQ has commented.

I beg you , on bended knee.

Please can it say "MNHQ has commented..."

MNHQ is singular. Not plural. Like companies

"Apple has launched a new iWatch" not ""Apple have launched a new iWatch"

Sorry it's a pet hate but if you had to correct this mistake in your job as many times as I do, you'd understand

OP posts:
Original poster
BitOutOfPractice · 12/09/2014 12:27

Nor me TheFarSide, I just know I'm right Wink

I still await MNHQ's verdict!

OP posts:
TheFarSide · 12/09/2014 09:23

I can't remember what we're arguing about.

Original poster
BitOutOfPractice · 12/09/2014 00:18

And it seems it's a pretty long debate btw

No need for debate - I am right

OP posts:
Original poster
BitOutOfPractice · 12/09/2014 00:17

Or maybe it's a plural Kate - just to make the debate a little more juicy? Hmm

OP posts:
springbabydays · 11/09/2014 21:14

Well that's a derail and a half trills Grin

Trills · 11/09/2014 20:51

If your name was Kate, and there was already a Kate, would you be KateS, or would you go for Katie or Katy or Kat or Katherine so that you got a whole name?

Trills · 11/09/2014 20:50

I like Kate S.

Original poster
BitOutOfPractice · 11/09/2014 20:48

Resistance is futile

OP posts:
TheFarSide · 11/09/2014 20:28

I am right.

I am so right.

TheFarSide · 11/09/2014 20:27
Grin
MNHQ
KateSMumsnet · 11/09/2014 17:35

@BitOutOfPractice

Oh lordy now I have the phrase that makes my teeth itch at the top of my thread!!

Yup - I did that on purpose. The borgbrain is vindictive and cruel.

Original poster
BitOutOfPractice · 11/09/2014 16:07

Oh lordy now I have the phrase that makes my teeth itch at the top of my thread!!

OP posts:
MNHQ
KateSMumsnet · 11/09/2014 16:02

I hear joining MNHQ is akin to being assimilated by the Borg. Grin

MNHQ are a powerful, homogeneous being. We are one heart beating with united purpose, one mind, one wrist with RSI, one subcutaneous gin implant. We are the sword in the darkness. We are the shield that guards the realms of MN. And now, we HAVE posted on this thread

p.s We will gather the Elders council and get back to you grammar issue Wink

Original poster
BitOutOfPractice · 11/09/2014 15:59

And a collective is a single entity!

OP posts:
mintbaileys · 11/09/2014 15:46

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

springbabydays · 11/09/2014 15:41

I'm with you OP (and I'm British) Grin

Original poster
BitOutOfPractice · 11/09/2014 11:12

TheFarSide I know you keep copying rafts of text out of a grammar book. Which confirm that in British English either the singular or plural is used.

OP posts:
TheFarSide · 10/09/2014 23:53

Your British FT journalist might have had a personal preference for the singular but it is definitely an American thing. From Wikipedia:

"In British English, it is generally accepted that collective nouns can take either singular or plural verb forms depending on the context and the metonymic shift that it implies. For example, "the team is in the dressing room" (formal agreement) refers to the team as an ensemble, while "the team are fighting among themselves" (notional agreement) refers to the team as individuals. This is also British English practice with names of countries and cities in sports contexts; for example, "Germany have won the competition.", "Madrid have lost three consecutive matches.", etc. In American English, collective nouns almost invariably take singular verb forms (formal agreement). In cases where a metonymic shift would be otherwise revealed nearby, the whole sentence may be recast to avoid the metonymy. (For example, "The team are fighting among themselves" may become "the team members are fighting among themselves" or simply "The team is fighting.") See Comparison of American and British English - Formal and notional agreement.

NameChangerNewDanger · 10/09/2014 23:43

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
BitOutOfPractice · 10/09/2014 23:35

But the message on the thread comes from an individual at mnhq so....

And I dispute that the use of singular being American. I had this rule beaten into me by a very British FT journalist.

It just jars with me. And it's only a small request

OP posts:
NameChangerNewDanger · 10/09/2014 23:21

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

NameChangerNewDanger · 10/09/2014 23:21

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

TheFarSide · 10/09/2014 23:18

But it will be a collective opinion, not just the opinion of the person who actually typed the response.

NameChangerNewDanger · 10/09/2014 23:14

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

BOFster · 10/09/2014 23:11

I think they are trying to convey that they are ALL INDIVIDUALS, Brian.