AIBU to days it’s MNHQ * has * commented on this thread, not * have *

[bbcessex]

Or have I forgotten any grammar I ever learnt?!!

Normally yes (the government is not are for example) BUT headquarters is an exception to the usual rule that it can be followed by either singular or plural verbs.

See en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/headquarters for example.

It's a collective noun, so in British English it's a vague area - most take single or plural verbs. Americans are much more keen on single verbs, however.

Depends if you see MNHQ as a collective noun .

Google Muphrey's Law OP. That is what you are the victim of.

MrsTerry - I believe you may be too !

According to the Guardian style guide: "Corporate entities take the singular: eg The BBC has decided (not “have”). In subsequent references make sure the pronoun is singular: “It [not “they”] will press for an increase in the licence fee.”

Sports teams and rock bands are the exception – “England have an uphill task” is OK, as is “Nirvana were overrated”

And yes I know, ho ho, taking grammar advice from the Grauniad, but every magazine I have worked on has followed that style guide to save the bother of making their own.

I started a thread on this in 2014

MNHQ promised on that thread to change it

They It hasn't

@bbcessex up with this I will not put!

It should be "has". MNHQ agrees with me. But are still saying "have"

Is there some kind of bylaw forbidding whoever posts on this thread from doing so with any accuracy?

Squbject to offficia approovel I thinc Id like to nomineight thiz thred four classicks.

I made an embarrassing typo in the OP of my thread about this too

This has been discussed at length on the Kermode and Mayo show recently, with contributions from professors of etymology etc. Conclusion was that either is defensible as long as used consistently within the text.

Cf
ABBA has reformed
ABBA have reformed

It's has

Because MNHQ is a singular noun

You are technically correct, but it is very normal in common parlance to use a plural verb with an institution made up of multiple people (e.g. family, football team, government) etc.

I agree withOutsideContextProblem : no-one can insist that one way is right. Guardian style guide gives one approach, but the alternative is defensible.

You can find evidence for the BBC in wartime saying "Supreme Allied Headquarters have issued an urgent warning..." Sounds fine to me.

It's a collective noun, so in British English it's a vague area - most take single or plural verbs.

This. It's the same with the police, the government, etc.

Even the Guardian don't follow their own rules:

"The government have issued a technical consultation..." can be found here www.theguardian.com/local-government-network/2013/aug/02/new-homes-bonus-local-growth-fund-councils.

Harold - I think there must be!!!

Both are acceptable in UK English.

Only 'has' is acceptable in US English.

Band names are a case in point, as PP mentioned:

Abba has reformed (US English).
Abba have reformed (UK English)

OP Thank you for this thread as this sort of issue has been annoying me for ages!

I'm a forriner so to my ears it should be a singular, but British DP would always use the plural. I'm going to keep on using my version as I'm happily right (though i can't tell DP off as he's right as well boo-hiss.

CheshireChat I don't know, you come over hear, speaking better English than us...

(And yes that was a deliberate mistake!)

TBF in my native language it would be a singular as well.

I love how many irregularities British English has, just not when I'm wrong .