1. Agreement-Singular Subjects
Writing Lab
Agreement-Singular Subjects

2. Important Information
Some nouns—especially those ending in -s — although plural in form, are singular in number and in meaning: news, measles, mumps, calculus, rickets, billiards, molasses, dizziness, and other – ness ending nouns. These nouns require singular verb forms.
EXAMPLE: No news is good news.

3. A Bit More Info
Certain words ending in -ics are singular when they refer to principles, a system, or a field of study. In these instances, the noun takes a plural verb. However, when these nouns refer to individual practice or application or activities, they generally take a plural verb: statistics, physics, mathematics, electronics, economics, politics, aerodynamics, mechanics, calisthenics, etc.
SINGULAR: Statistics is a required course for doctoral students.
PLURAL: The statistics on child abuse are alarming.

4. Examples Statistics is not my favorite subject.
(In this sentence, statistics indicates a field of study.)
Alternatively: Statistics show that divorce is a common practice in our society.
(In this sentence, statistics is plural—multiple data about divorce.)

5. More Examples
Certain nouns with plural forms and no singular counterpart are nearly always used with plural verbs: riches, grits, eyeglasses, manners, wages, pliers, whereabouts, jeans, binoculars, tweezers, people, scissors, tidings, trousers, minutes, tights, clothes.
Example: The scissors are lying on the table.
Example: Membership dues are $ a year.

6. That’s all, folks!
This lesson is part of the UWF Writing Lab Grammar Mini-Lesson Series
Lessons adapted from Real Good Grammar, Too by Mamie Webb Hixon
To find out more, visit the Writing Lab’s website where you can take a self-scoring quiz corresponding to this lesson