Re: [PATCH] More pedantry.

[Mike Harrold]

> 
> On Thu, Jul 12, 2001 at 04:58:45PM -0400, Mike Harrold wrote:
> > > 
> > > > - *		None of the E1AP-E3AP erratas are visible to the user.
> > > > + *		None of the E1AP-E3AP errata are visible to the user.
> > > 
> > > If you want real pedantry, I think you mean:
> > > 
> > > > + *		None of the E1AP-E3AP errata is visible to the user.
> > > 
> > > ('none' is singular - read 'not one')
> > > 
> > > ... several times within this patch.
> > 
> > No, he was right the first time. Errata is plural. Erratum is the
> > singular.
> 
> Yes, but the subject of the sentence is 'none'. Thus the verb should be
> in singular: None of them *is* visible.
> 
> But perhaps my version of english is different from yours. I learned
> mine from textbooks.

I'll partly retract, but the original poster was still correct (see the
Usage note). The note only handles persons, not items however. The same
rules should apply though.

/Mike

 (nn)
  pron. 

      1.No one; not one; nobody: None dared to do it. 
      2.Not any: None of my classmates survived the war. 
      3.No part; not any: none of your business. 

  adv. 

      1.Not at all: He is none too ill. 
      2.In no way: The jeans looked none the better for having been washed. 

  [Middle English, from Old English nn : ne, no, not; see ne in Indo-European Roots + n, one; see oi-no- in
  Indo-European Roots.] 

        Usage Note: It is widely asserted that none is equivalent to no one, and hence requires a
        singular verb and singular pronoun: None of the prisoners was given his soup. It is true that
        none is etymologically derived from the Old English word n, "one," but the word has been
        used as both a singular and a plural noun from Old English onward. The plural usage appears
        in the King James Bible as well as the works of John Dryden and Edmund Burke and is
        widespread in the works of respectable writers today. Of course, the singular usage is
        perfectly acceptable. The choice between a singular or plural verb depends on the desired
        effect. Both options are acceptable in this sentence: None of the conspirators has (or have)
        been brought to trial. When none is modified by almost, however, it is difficult to avoid
        treating the word as a plural: Almost none of the officials were (not was) interviewed by the
        committee. None can only be plural in its use in sentences such as None but his most loyal
        supporters believe (not believes) his story. See Usage Note at every. See Usage Note at
        neither. See Usage Note at nothing.