Singular or plural verb for: "all of" + multiple uncountable nouns?


I would like to know the proper verb form (singular or plural) when using "all (of)" followed my multiple uncountable nouns.  Examples:


All of the faculty and staff is/are licensed. All the food and wine is/are ready to be served. All of the research, analysis, and writing is/are my own work.

asked Mar 04 '12 at 22:18 Kaz Sakuraba New member

1 answer


Hmmm, I find both of your answers interesting, but I am still unsure what is correct.  I did find the following guidance from another source:



(1) All of the pie is gone.

(2) All of the pies are gone.



(1) The staff is in a meeting.

Staff is acting as a unit here.

(2) The staff are in disagreement about the findings.

The staff are acting as separate individuals in this example.

The sentence would read even better as:  The staff members are in disagreement about the findings.

link answered Mar 05 '12 at 03:19 Kaz Sakuraba New member

Kaz, I'm pretty sure your source is a British style manual, possibly Oxford. APA says that "staff" in your second sentence of your #2 would be considered singular in American English. Therefore, "the staff is in disagreement." TolleyMar 05 '12 at 04:17

Perhaps you are right, for although the individual source is American, her guidance may be based on British style. Supporting your choice of verb agreement is the following line I found from "The Brothers Karamazov" by Dostoyevsky: "Believe that, believe it without doubt; for in that lies all the hope and faith of the saints." I found at least two such English translations (though I am unsure whether they are British or American English) using the verb "lies" and no translations using "lie." Thanks for your advice. Kaz SakurabaMar 05 '12 at 14:58

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