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uk.sci.weather (UK Weather) (uk.sci.weather) For the discussion of daily weather events, chiefly affecting the UK and adjacent parts of Europe, both past and predicted. The discussion is open to all, but contributions on a practical scientific level are encouraged. |
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![]() "Peter Thomas" wrote in message ... In message , Philip Eden writes "Stu" wrote in message ... snip Driving conditions will be extremely dangerous and the public is advised not to make any journeys unless really necessary. The public *is* advised ???? The public is singular, I understand. Unlooked-for precision by the writer. Unusual these days, hence the over-use of sadly and the use of scarey in journalism. The precision is the more to be cherished because of its rarity. "The public" is, as Fowler calls it, a noun of multitude. It may be followed by either a singular or a plural form of the verb, according to whether it stands for a single entity or for the individuals who compose it. The clue in the above example is in the rest of the sentence. If the writer of the Emergency Flash Warning regards "the public" as a single entity, he or she therefore expects "the public" may have decided to make one or more journeys as a single entity. If the writer of the warning thinks that individual members of the public might be considering making individual journeys, then evidently he or she believes that "the public" comprises a large number of individuals. Philip Eden |
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