Oct. 2, 2002

Trapping the Elusive Singular Verb

Dicta Column - By Devallis Rutledge - The words "none" and "neither" lay traps for the unwary. That's because they typically precede a prepositional phrase that ends with a plural object, followed by the verb. In a motion written a few months ago, I wrote, "None of the plaintiffs was transported to the police station." When opposing counsel quoted that contention in his opposition, he wrote, "None of the plaintiffs was [sic] transported to the police station."