Health Savings Accounts May Reduce Health Insurance Costs

• Publication year: 2005
• Pages: 61

34 Colo.Law. 61 Colorado Bar Journal 2005.

2005, January, Pg. 61. Health Savings Accounts May Reduce Health Insurance Costs

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61

Vol. 34, No. 1, Pg. 61

The Colorado Lawyer
January 2005
Vol. 34, No. 1 [Page 61]

Departments
The Scrivener: Modern Legal Writing
Health Savings Accounts May Reduce Health Insurance Costs
by K. K. DuVivier
C 2004 K.K. DuVivier

K.K. DuVivier is an Assistant Professor and Director of the Lawyering Process Program at the University of Denver College of Law

I frequently get questions from readers, and when possible answer them immediately. However, the following question was complex enough that I thought I would share it, as well as my response, through a column

KK: I missed the memo that changed noun-verb agreement on nouns formerly defined as singular i.e. "staff," meaning more than one person, as in "the staff are." When did it change from "the staff is"? Who decided on this change, and why wasn't I notified? I'm making light of this issue, but I'm perplexed. P.S. Grammar check didn't get the memo either.

District Judge Marilyn Leonard

Compound Subjects

The general rule is that a singular subject takes a singular verb and a plural subject takes a plural verb.

Examples:

- She enjoys chocolate cake. (Singular subject with singular verb.)

- They enjoy chocolate cake, too. (Plural subject with plural verb.)

But what happens when the subject is two or more nouns combined by a conjunction? These "conjunctive-compound subjects" usually take a plural verb.

Example:

- The plaintiff and defendant agree to the continuance.

(Nouns joined by the conjunction "and" create a plural subject both acting on the verb.)1

There are at least two exceptions to the general rule. First, if the nouns are joined by a disjunctive compound, such as "or" or "nor," the verb should agree with the subject closest to the verb.2 When the subject involves both a singular and plural noun, it is best to place the plural noun near the verb to avoid an awkward result.

Examples:

- Neither the prosecution nor the defense is ready for trial.

(Nouns joined by the disjunctive "nor" act independently and warrant a singular verb.)

- Neither the jurors nor the judge seems sympathetic to our argument.

(This version correctly uses a singular verb after the singular noun "judge," but seems more awkward than...