Depends where you are. - PPC Posting Board

Subject: Depends where you are.
Author: Huinesoron
Posted on: 2022-03-18 12:30:32 UTC

The general rule is that American English treats organisations as singular, while British English treats them as plural.

In slightly more detail, the BBC says that it depends on whether you're talking about the group as a unit (singular), or as a number of individuals (plural). So:

The PPC (individual agents) are coming to get you.
The PPC (organisation) is run by the Flowers.
The Protectors of the Plot Continuum are a bunch of trigger-happy maniacs.
The Protectors of the Plot Continuum is the creation of Jay and Acacia.

But J&A themselves could have said 'are' in that last one, because they'd be talking about their own agents, not necessarily the organisation as a whole.

(But in American English, all of those would probably be 'is'.)

hS

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Interlude! by K. n. Shirayuki on 2022-03-08 16:29:00 UTC Writing Reply

In which there's some details on what kind of new life Urato and Inasuke are in for.

Thoughts and Notes by Tomash on 2022-03-17 23:58:18 UTC Reply
- The disclaimer should start with something like "The PPC belongs to Jay and Acacia."
- The summary above probably should be "settle into their new lives"
Typos at the front aside, it's a nice bit of writing. I can't think of much to say about it, especially since it's more a worldbuilding piece than anything else.

PPC is plural by K. n. Shirayuki on 2022-03-18 11:17:41 UTC Reply

which is why I write it as "belong"

Grammar is weird. by Kittyauthor on 2022-03-18 12:15:46 UTC Reply

I see where you're coming from with this. The PPC is, technically, a group of many people/creatures, but I believe (and correct me if I'm wrong, anybody) the rule for most groups is to treat it as one thing.

For example, we wouldn't say "The Bad Pay organization are against...", we'd say "The Bad Pay organization is against..."

If PPC wasn't in acronym form, then I could see it going either "The Protectors of the Plot Continuum belong to Jay and Acacia." OR "The Protectors of the Plot Continuum belongs to Jay and Acacia." But, since it is an acronym, then it would be treated as singular, I think.

(And then there's the whole discussion of whether each memeber is acting individually or not. In the former, it is plural. But that's a whole 'nother discussion.)

-kA, who nearly wrote "The Agents Against Bad Pay" and wonders how long it would've stayed up, if that was the case.

Depends where you are. by Huinesoron on 2022-03-18 12:30:32 UTC Reply
The general rule is that American English treats organisations as singular, while British English treats them as plural.

In slightly more detail, the BBC says that it depends on whether you're talking about the group as a unit (singular), or as a number of individuals (plural). So:
- The PPC (individual agents) are coming to get you.
- The PPC (organisation) is run by the Flowers.
- The Protectors of the Plot Continuum are a bunch of trigger-happy maniacs.
- The Protectors of the Plot Continuum is the creation of Jay and Acacia.
But J&A themselves could have said 'are' in that last one, because they'd be talking about their own agents, not necessarily the organisation as a whole.

(But in American English, all of those would probably be 'is'.)

hS

Note: by Lily Winterwood on 2022-03-18 16:19:11 UTC Reply

The Protectors of the Plot Continuum are a bunch of trigger-happy maniacs.

This one's "are" not "is" in American English, too, because "Protectors". ;P

re: interlude by doctorlit on 2022-03-09 12:21:56 UTC Reply

Cute little bit of narrative! You're really getting clever with the nested RCs idea. (Although don't infringe on Momoka's privacy too much, I feel bad for her!) And I think it will be lots of fun watching Inasuke and Urato trying to to do missions together.

—doctorlit, sleepy

Stay tuned! by K. n. Shirayuki on 2022-03-10 01:38:35 UTC Reply

One more interlude to finish their introduction, then they'll get their missions!

Thanks for the comment!