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Post by Jockscrap on Apr 21, 2022 11:34:10 GMT
Changing some words in the title so it doesn’t trigger plagiarism software as I’m not sure how that works.
This is a dissertation title:
“A study into whether books, apples and pears or sheep were the most influential in encouraging people to move to another country”
So three different area being investigated
1.books
2.apples and pears
3.sheep - sheep chosen intentially to be a word that can be both singular or plural to represent the word in the original title.
Should it be ‘were the most influential’ or ‘was the most influential’?.
Would it be good to have a comma after pears?
The title can’t be reordered at this stage as the dissertation is all but written and has the things in this order in the chapters and there is a natural progression to them.
Any help gratefully received, thank you.
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maryannscraps
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,791
Aug 28, 2017 12:51:28 GMT
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Post by maryannscraps on Apr 21, 2022 11:42:10 GMT
Leave it as "were" - all the items are plural, so use the plural past version.
You can add an Oxford comma between "pears" and "or" to clarify the series. I'm a big fan.
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Post by gillyp on Apr 21, 2022 11:48:18 GMT
The items are plural so were is appropriate.
I would put the comma in otherwise someone could say you were meaning apples and pears or apples and sheep.
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Post by gar on Apr 21, 2022 11:50:50 GMT
Were is correct - the comma is optional I would say because you wouldn’t think pears went with sheep the way it’s structured. But I’m not an expert by any means 😊
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Post by monklady123 on Apr 21, 2022 11:55:10 GMT
"Were". And definitely put in that comma!  (cue the Oxford Comma Wars...hahahahaha) |
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Post by Basket1lady on Apr 21, 2022 12:11:56 GMT
You need a comma after pears to indicate that apples and pears are grouped together. It’s a necessity, not an option, if you want apples and pears grouped together. And yes, it’s were. All subjects are plural.
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Post by gramasue on Apr 21, 2022 12:13:39 GMT
Definitely leave it at were.
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Dalai Mama
Drama Llama
La Pea Boheme
Posts: 6,985
Jun 26, 2014 0:31:31 GMT
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Post by Dalai Mama on Apr 21, 2022 12:16:10 GMT
"were" and 100% put the comma.
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Post by Jockscrap on Apr 21, 2022 12:24:51 GMT
Thanks all. Were it is! I’m a huge fan of the Oxford comma too - didn’t even know it was a thing until I heard about it on here.
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Post by Really Red on Apr 21, 2022 13:37:16 GMT
I am not a fan of the Oxford comma per se, but of course it needs to be added here because it changes the meaning. So I guess I should say I am a fan of the USEFUL Oxford comma . I agree with everyone about "were." |
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luckyjune
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,687 
Location: In the rainy, rainy WA
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Post by luckyjune on Apr 21, 2022 14:13:25 GMT
Were and team Oxford comma here.
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Post by lucyg on Apr 21, 2022 16:16:53 GMT
I’m with everyone else. Were and Oxford comma. |
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gottapeanow
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,817
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Post by gottapeanow on Apr 21, 2022 17:53:03 GMT
Professional editor here.
I agree with everyone else. Keep were.
The Oxford comma is optional, depending on the style guide you follow. In this case, it will definitely help with clarity, so use it.
Lisa
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AmeliaBloomer
Drama Llama
Posts: 6,842
Location: USA
Jun 26, 2014 5:01:45 GMT
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Post by AmeliaBloomer on Apr 22, 2022 0:17:24 GMT
I rarely see the need for an Oxford comma but I do here.
Sometimes pigs do fly.
More aptly, sometimes pigs, cows and chickens, or llamas do fly.
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Post by AussieMeg on Apr 22, 2022 0:22:15 GMT
I rarely see the need for an Oxford comma but I do here. I feel the same! I have a friend whom* I tease mercilessly about her love affair with the Oxford comma. I don't often use them, but in this case I would definitely use one. *I also tease her about her use of "whom" even when "who" is actually correct. And yes, "were" is correct. |
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(cue the Oxford Comma Wars...hahahahaha)
