Re: Dorky grammar question

["Bonnie Granat" <bgranat -at- granatedit -dot- com>]

technical -at- theverbalist -dot- com wrote:
> Heya Wr-lers
> Sorry to bother the list with this, but I can't seem to find an
> answer in
> my usual on-line grammar souces, and my mom (the former English
> teacher) isn't home.
>
> So, in the phrase "a set of rules that defines" does the verb
> "define" get modified based on the singular noun "set"--making it
> "defines"--or based
> on the plural noun "rules"--making it "define"?
>

It depends on the meaning. In many cases, eliminating "a set" will not
only eliminate the problem, but increase clarity. Do you really, in
other words, need "a set"? After all, "rules" is a group and implicitly
denotes a group.

For example:


"The group created a set of rules that define the desired output."

versus

"The group created rules that define the desired output."

---------------

Which is clearer to you?


You might want to consider becoming a member of the best copyediting
list on the planet, so you can get the experts' take on grammatical
issues:


https://listserv.indiana.edu/cgi-bin/wa-iub.exe?SUBED1=copyediting-l&A=1


Bonnie Granat
www.GranatEdit.com
Technical Editing and Writing / Cambridge, Mass.
617-319-7461







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