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Is "staff" singular or plural?

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10

2

In the Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary there is an example for "get by":

We can get by with four computers at the moment, but we'll need a couple more when the new staff arrive.

^{(Emphasis changed.)}

Shouldn't this be "arrives"?

singular-vs-plural subject-verb-agreement grammatical-number

share|improve this question

edited 16 mins ago

Solomon Ucko

1094

asked 18 hours ago

oscar tabarezoscar tabarez

533

New contributor

oscar tabarez is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.

• 
  
  
  

  
  3
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  Reading the title, I thought the question was why we don't write "he's", "she's", or "it's" as the possessive pronouns.
  
  – David K
  15 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  BrE has a practice of treating nouns for groups of people (even company or agency names) as plurals grammatically.
  
  – chrylis
  9 hours ago
  
  
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

10

2

In the Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary there is an example for "get by":

We can get by with four computers at the moment, but we'll need a couple more when the new staff arrive.

^{(Emphasis changed.)}

Shouldn't this be "arrives"?

singular-vs-plural subject-verb-agreement grammatical-number

share|improve this question

edited 16 mins ago

Solomon Ucko

1094

asked 18 hours ago

oscar tabarezoscar tabarez

533

New contributor

oscar tabarez is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.

• 
  
  
  

  
  3
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  Reading the title, I thought the question was why we don't write "he's", "she's", or "it's" as the possessive pronouns.
  
  – David K
  15 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  BrE has a practice of treating nouns for groups of people (even company or agency names) as plurals grammatically.
  
  – chrylis
  9 hours ago
  
  
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

In the Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary there is an example for "get by":

We can get by with four computers at the moment, but we'll need a couple more when the new staff arrive.

^{(Emphasis changed.)}

Shouldn't this be "arrives"?

singular-vs-plural subject-verb-agreement grammatical-number

share|improve this question

edited 16 mins ago

Solomon Ucko

1094

asked 18 hours ago

oscar tabarezoscar tabarez

533

New contributor

oscar tabarez is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.

share|improve this question

edited 16 mins ago

Solomon Ucko

1094

asked 18 hours ago

oscar tabarezoscar tabarez

533

New contributor

oscar tabarez is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.

share|improve this question

edited 16 mins ago

Solomon Ucko

1094

asked 18 hours ago

oscar tabarezoscar tabarez

533

New contributor

oscar tabarez is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.

edited 16 mins ago

Solomon Ucko

1094

edited 16 mins ago

Solomon Ucko

1094

asked 18 hours ago

oscar tabarezoscar tabarez

533

New contributor

oscar tabarez is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.

asked 18 hours ago

oscar tabarezoscar tabarez

533

3 Answers
3

active

oldest

votes

5

EDIT

I see from comments and from the answer by @Kshitij Singh that my answer does not cover all cases. I may have to rethink it.

---

It is a very good question. You can think of staff as an irregular plural.

We can correctly say:

When the sheep arrives we will put it in the paddock.

When the sheep arrive we can put them in the paddock.

This is is because 'sheep' is the plural of 'sheep'.

In the case of "staff", it acts as an irregular plural that has no singular form! The singular is "staff member".

---

Here you can see the usage in a dictionary:

Meaning of staff in English
Contents staff noun UK ​ /stɑːf/ US ​ /stæf/ staff noun (PEOPLE) ​ A2 [ S, + sing/pl verb ] the group of people who work for
an organization:

There is a good relationship between staff and pupils at the school.

The staff are not very happy about the latest pay increase.

There are over a hundred staff in the company.

He is on (= a member of) the editorial staff of the magazine.

https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/staff

---

Note that if you use 'staff' as a singular noun then you are indicating that it means a long substantial walking stick.

[ C ] formal a long, strong stick held in the hand that is used as a
support when walking, as a weapon, or as a symbol of authority

https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/staff

share|improve this answer

edited 16 hours ago

answered 18 hours ago

chasly from UKchasly from UK

2,742313

• 
  
  
  

  
  3
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  Lots of US-centric style guides and grammar sites and blogs obstinately maintain that 'staff' is always singular. The issue also affects company names, teams, etc.
  
  – Michael Harvey
  17 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  2
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  @chasly - yes, exactly. Americans would say that.
  
  – Michael Harvey
  17 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  1
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  @chasly, you should address the OP's confusion by mentioning that staff is singular-only in American English, and may be singular or plural in British English. I am surprised you did not know this.
  
  – Michael Harvey
  17 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  1
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  As an American, “staff” and “team” behave like singular nouns for me, so this is accurate.
  
  – Mixolydian
  16 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  1
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  I didn't say there was anything wrong with "he is on the staff." I'm just saying that it would seem odd to me if "staff" were considered a plural noun in that usage. For example, would you write, "The staff are improved now that he is on them"? I would have written "is" and "it". Is that just an American thing?
  
  – David K
  10 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  

 | 
show 10 more comments

6

In British English staff can be singular or plural. If it is the subject of a verb, this verb is plural.

The staff in this shop are very helpful.

share|improve this answer

answered 18 hours ago

Kshitij SinghKshitij Singh

1,239113

• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  Could you give an example where staff (meaning a number of workers) is singular?
  
  – chasly from UK
  17 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  A staff of ten.
  
  – Kshitij Singh
  17 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  Hmm... You're right. I'll have to rethink.
  
  – chasly from UK
  16 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

1

In American English, I think both would be acceptable. Either the sentence is treating "the staff" as one entity, which is fine, or "the staff" as multiple staff members (or "staffers").

It reminds me of how the United States used to be plural until after the American Civil War ("The US are" vs "the US is"). A similar case would be "cast" (theatrical); "The cast is all college students" is acceptable, and "the cast put on the show once a night" is also perfectly fine, for example.

share|improve this answer

answered 13 hours ago

user45266user45266

1,269116

add a comment | 

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5

EDIT

I see from comments and from the answer by @Kshitij Singh that my answer does not cover all cases. I may have to rethink it.

---

It is a very good question. You can think of staff as an irregular plural.

We can correctly say:

When the sheep arrives we will put it in the paddock.

When the sheep arrive we can put them in the paddock.

This is is because 'sheep' is the plural of 'sheep'.

In the case of "staff", it acts as an irregular plural that has no singular form! The singular is "staff member".

---

Here you can see the usage in a dictionary:

Meaning of staff in English
Contents staff noun UK ​ /stɑːf/ US ​ /stæf/ staff noun (PEOPLE) ​ A2 [ S, + sing/pl verb ] the group of people who work for
an organization:

There is a good relationship between staff and pupils at the school.

The staff are not very happy about the latest pay increase.

There are over a hundred staff in the company.

He is on (= a member of) the editorial staff of the magazine.

https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/staff

---

Note that if you use 'staff' as a singular noun then you are indicating that it means a long substantial walking stick.

[ C ] formal a long, strong stick held in the hand that is used as a
support when walking, as a weapon, or as a symbol of authority

https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/staff

share|improve this answer

edited 16 hours ago

answered 18 hours ago

chasly from UKchasly from UK

2,742313

• 
  
  
  

  
  3
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  Lots of US-centric style guides and grammar sites and blogs obstinately maintain that 'staff' is always singular. The issue also affects company names, teams, etc.
  
  – Michael Harvey
  17 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  2
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  @chasly - yes, exactly. Americans would say that.
  
  – Michael Harvey
  17 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  1
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  @chasly, you should address the OP's confusion by mentioning that staff is singular-only in American English, and may be singular or plural in British English. I am surprised you did not know this.
  
  – Michael Harvey
  17 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  1
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  As an American, “staff” and “team” behave like singular nouns for me, so this is accurate.
  
  – Mixolydian
  16 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  1
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  I didn't say there was anything wrong with "he is on the staff." I'm just saying that it would seem odd to me if "staff" were considered a plural noun in that usage. For example, would you write, "The staff are improved now that he is on them"? I would have written "is" and "it". Is that just an American thing?
  
  – David K
  10 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  

 | 
show 10 more comments

5

EDIT

I see from comments and from the answer by @Kshitij Singh that my answer does not cover all cases. I may have to rethink it.

---

It is a very good question. You can think of staff as an irregular plural.

We can correctly say:

When the sheep arrives we will put it in the paddock.

When the sheep arrive we can put them in the paddock.

This is is because 'sheep' is the plural of 'sheep'.

In the case of "staff", it acts as an irregular plural that has no singular form! The singular is "staff member".

---

Here you can see the usage in a dictionary:

Meaning of staff in English
Contents staff noun UK ​ /stɑːf/ US ​ /stæf/ staff noun (PEOPLE) ​ A2 [ S, + sing/pl verb ] the group of people who work for
an organization:

There is a good relationship between staff and pupils at the school.

The staff are not very happy about the latest pay increase.

There are over a hundred staff in the company.

He is on (= a member of) the editorial staff of the magazine.

https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/staff

---

Note that if you use 'staff' as a singular noun then you are indicating that it means a long substantial walking stick.

[ C ] formal a long, strong stick held in the hand that is used as a
support when walking, as a weapon, or as a symbol of authority

https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/staff

share|improve this answer

edited 16 hours ago

answered 18 hours ago

chasly from UKchasly from UK

2,742313

• 
  
  
  

  
  3
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  Lots of US-centric style guides and grammar sites and blogs obstinately maintain that 'staff' is always singular. The issue also affects company names, teams, etc.
  
  – Michael Harvey
  17 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  2
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  @chasly - yes, exactly. Americans would say that.
  
  – Michael Harvey
  17 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  1
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  @chasly, you should address the OP's confusion by mentioning that staff is singular-only in American English, and may be singular or plural in British English. I am surprised you did not know this.
  
  – Michael Harvey
  17 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  1
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  As an American, “staff” and “team” behave like singular nouns for me, so this is accurate.
  
  – Mixolydian
  16 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  1
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  I didn't say there was anything wrong with "he is on the staff." I'm just saying that it would seem odd to me if "staff" were considered a plural noun in that usage. For example, would you write, "The staff are improved now that he is on them"? I would have written "is" and "it". Is that just an American thing?
  
  – David K
  10 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  

 | 
show 10 more comments

EDIT

I see from comments and from the answer by @Kshitij Singh that my answer does not cover all cases. I may have to rethink it.

---

It is a very good question. You can think of staff as an irregular plural.

We can correctly say:

When the sheep arrives we will put it in the paddock.

When the sheep arrive we can put them in the paddock.

This is is because 'sheep' is the plural of 'sheep'.

In the case of "staff", it acts as an irregular plural that has no singular form! The singular is "staff member".

---

Here you can see the usage in a dictionary:

Meaning of staff in English
Contents staff noun UK ​ /stɑːf/ US ​ /stæf/ staff noun (PEOPLE) ​ A2 [ S, + sing/pl verb ] the group of people who work for
an organization:

There is a good relationship between staff and pupils at the school.

The staff are not very happy about the latest pay increase.

There are over a hundred staff in the company.

He is on (= a member of) the editorial staff of the magazine.

https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/staff

---

Note that if you use 'staff' as a singular noun then you are indicating that it means a long substantial walking stick.

[ C ] formal a long, strong stick held in the hand that is used as a
support when walking, as a weapon, or as a symbol of authority

https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/staff

share|improve this answer

edited 16 hours ago

answered 18 hours ago

chasly from UKchasly from UK

2,742313

share|improve this answer

edited 16 hours ago

answered 18 hours ago

chasly from UKchasly from UK

2,742313

answered 18 hours ago

chasly from UKchasly from UK

2,742313

answered 18 hours ago

chasly from UKchasly from UK

2,742313

6

In British English staff can be singular or plural. If it is the subject of a verb, this verb is plural.

The staff in this shop are very helpful.

share|improve this answer

answered 18 hours ago

Kshitij SinghKshitij Singh

1,239113

• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  Could you give an example where staff (meaning a number of workers) is singular?
  
  – chasly from UK
  17 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  A staff of ten.
  
  – Kshitij Singh
  17 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  Hmm... You're right. I'll have to rethink.
  
  – chasly from UK
  16 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

6

In British English staff can be singular or plural. If it is the subject of a verb, this verb is plural.

The staff in this shop are very helpful.

share|improve this answer

answered 18 hours ago

Kshitij SinghKshitij Singh

1,239113

• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  Could you give an example where staff (meaning a number of workers) is singular?
  
  – chasly from UK
  17 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  A staff of ten.
  
  – Kshitij Singh
  17 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  Hmm... You're right. I'll have to rethink.
  
  – chasly from UK
  16 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

In British English staff can be singular or plural. If it is the subject of a verb, this verb is plural.

The staff in this shop are very helpful.

share|improve this answer

answered 18 hours ago

Kshitij SinghKshitij Singh

1,239113

share|improve this answer

answered 18 hours ago

Kshitij SinghKshitij Singh

1,239113

answered 18 hours ago

Kshitij SinghKshitij Singh

1,239113

answered 18 hours ago

Kshitij SinghKshitij Singh

1,239113

1

In American English, I think both would be acceptable. Either the sentence is treating "the staff" as one entity, which is fine, or "the staff" as multiple staff members (or "staffers").

It reminds me of how the United States used to be plural until after the American Civil War ("The US are" vs "the US is"). A similar case would be "cast" (theatrical); "The cast is all college students" is acceptable, and "the cast put on the show once a night" is also perfectly fine, for example.

share|improve this answer

answered 13 hours ago

user45266user45266

1,269116

add a comment | 

1

In American English, I think both would be acceptable. Either the sentence is treating "the staff" as one entity, which is fine, or "the staff" as multiple staff members (or "staffers").

It reminds me of how the United States used to be plural until after the American Civil War ("The US are" vs "the US is"). A similar case would be "cast" (theatrical); "The cast is all college students" is acceptable, and "the cast put on the show once a night" is also perfectly fine, for example.

share|improve this answer

answered 13 hours ago

user45266user45266

1,269116

add a comment | 

In American English, I think both would be acceptable. Either the sentence is treating "the staff" as one entity, which is fine, or "the staff" as multiple staff members (or "staffers").

It reminds me of how the United States used to be plural until after the American Civil War ("The US are" vs "the US is"). A similar case would be "cast" (theatrical); "The cast is all college students" is acceptable, and "the cast put on the show once a night" is also perfectly fine, for example.

share|improve this answer

answered 13 hours ago

user45266user45266

1,269116

share|improve this answer

answered 13 hours ago

user45266user45266

1,269116

answered 13 hours ago

user45266user45266

1,269116

answered 13 hours ago

user45266user45266

1,269116