When the collective noun conveys the idea of unity,
the verb must be singular.
"The army was disbanded."
"The council were divided."
"A number of men and women were present."
"The people rejoice in their freedom."
"The peasantry go barefoot, and the middle sort make use of wooden
shoes."
"The world stands in awe of your majesty."
"All the world are spectators of your conduct."
Weights, Measures, and Values
The names of weights, measures, and values, when considered as wholes,
require singular verbs, and when considered as units require verbs in
the plural.
"There is twenty shillings in my purse," meaning one pound in value.
"There are twenty shillings in my purse," meaning twenty separate
coins, each being a shilling. "Sixty-three gallons equals a hogshead."
"Ten tons of coal are consumed daily."
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Titles of Books
Whether the form be singular or plural, the title is considered a
unit, and requires a verb in the singular; as, "'The Merry Wives of
Windsor' was written by Shakespeare." "Dr. Holmes's American Annals
was published in 1805.
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