AIBU to wonder if the Queen made a grammatical error?

[deardiary66]

The Queen has written a letter to Gareth Southgate ahead of tonight’s football game that includes the words:

“I want to send my congratulations and that of my family to you all”

Is “that” correct here or should it be “those”, as “congratulations” is plural?

I don’t mean to nitpick, but I saw the letter and genuinely wondered what was technically correct!

I'll give her a call, she's my cousin.

Should be ‘those’. Some backroom drone courtier will be feeling the royal boot.

I doubt if Queenie wrote it herself. .

I don't think it's correct. Congratulations are plural so "that" should be replaced with "those" imvho. Still sounds clunky though.

I'd have to check but I think "congratulations" and "condolences" are the same type as "the news" - despite the s at the end they are not plural forms, but singular.

that's my instinct but English is not my first language.
I just don't think there's such thing as "congratulation" - is there?

We said this!! But then we thought it’s the Queen so she must be right and we’ve been getting it wrong the whole time

She pointed out there is a thing 'The Queens English'.
This is an example.
If you continue to be treasonous you will be stuck in the Tower.
After she's binge watched Clarksons Farm.

I would have said those. But I imagine whoever does do her messages is well versed in the way the royal family communicates

See also when they have babies….”was safely delivered of a son” - who else says that ?

Nope. Should be plural. You wouldn’t say “I hear congratulations is in order.”

I think “that” as she has one family, obviously there is more than one person in the family but just one family. It’s one that could be read either way but I’ll go with the Queen

ok, so I'm wrong

Congratulation, the singular form, is the act of congratulating so it does exist.
I don't think I've ever seen or heard that!

And Congratulations is plural.
so it should be "those" unless there's some special rule - like "those of my family" means something would refer to people so "that" makes more sense?

("news" is a singular noun. couldn't remember the terminology!)

Congratulation is used occasionally. You could send, for example, a letter of congratulation. But it's not commonly used.

'Congratulations' is definitely plural. And now I'm contemplating whether that should say 'congratulations' are definitely plural 🙈😁

@sashagabadon

I think “that” as she has one family, obviously there is more than one person in the family but just one family. It’s one that could be read either way but I’ll go with the Queen

Yes is it related to family

I don't know, sounds right to me but what do I know!

It also seemed wrong to me that the first line of the letter started with a numeric 55 and not fifty-five.

It’s correct, but formal. Most people don’t write as formally as HMQ.

@Frazzled2207

I would have said those. But I imagine whoever does do her messages is well versed in the way the royal family communicates

See also when they have babies….”was safely delivered of a son” - who else says that ?

@Frazzled2207

exactly.
she's hardly gonna send out a message of "Oi! Fair fucks to ya chivas! Destroy!!! Luv, Liz"

Jumping on your thread here, but an additional grammar question.

Would you write ‘20 reasons why you’re brilliant’ or ‘20 reasons that you’re brilliant’? I keep flip flopping between the two.

One forgives one's Queen if an error has been made. One would forgive any other 95 year old who had been recently widowed.

she's hardly gonna send out a message of "Oi! Fair fucks to ya chivas! Destroy!!! Luv, Liz"

🤣

@Costumeidea - 20 reasons why you’re…

Definitely should be ‘those.’

I’m so glad you posted this. I thought it must be a spoof when I saw that too!

Pretty sure it is correct and you would say 'I hear congratulations is in order'

Well if it was wrong it's now right as it's the Queen's English and after the year she's had she can do what whatever she likes . I, however, think it's grammatically correct but somewhat tortuous.

@Costumeidea

Jumping on your thread here, but an additional grammar question.

Would you write ‘20 reasons why you’re brilliant’ or ‘20 reasons that you’re brilliant’? I keep flip flopping between the two.

Why sounds better imo

'that' doesn't relate to 'my family'.

Otherwise she could have written “I want to send my congratulations and the family of my family to you all” that makes no sense.

It relates to her congratulations, so she could have written “I want to send my congratulations and the congratulations of my family to you all” and it would have made sense.