Why do Brits refer to corporations are plural entities?

[BlahBlahYouToo]

"Microsoft are..."
"Google are..."

It's fucking annoying to hear you guys speak like that.
Damnit, do we have to teach you how to speak your own language?

 

[Newbian]

Where did that thread about these differences go?

Calling french fries as chips is where they started the battle.

 

[Printer Bandit]

corporations are people
people is doesn't sound right

 

[Brian Stirling]

corporations are people
people is doesn't sound right

As the saying goes ... I'll believe corporations are people the day Texas executes one!


Brian

 

[Mixolydian]

corporations are people
people is doesn't sound right

A corporation is a single entity.

 

[KeithTalent]

I purchased two packets of crisps last night. One angus steak and one crispy bacon flavoured.

KT

 

[blankslate]

A corporation is a single entity.

With many employees perhaps they are referring to the employees collectively...

Better than thinking a corporation is actually a person imo.

 

[KeithTalent]

With many employees perhaps they are referring to the employees collectively...

Better than thinking a corporation is actually a person imo.

Plus they are actually owned by the shareholders, so maybe they are referring to the collective ownership.

KT

 

[Jeff7]

I've heard quite a few people refer to software packages as "him."

"Now when you click on this, he'll take you to another section..."


It may just be the result of working with some of these software packages for decades. Eventually you might get the idea that they're mildly sentient, and just trying to screw with you. No one could possibly make a UI that is so inhumanly counterintuitive.

Right?

 

[blankslate]

Plus they are actually owned by the shareholders, so maybe they are referring to the collective ownership.

could be that too. probably more likely that.

 

[sandorski]

The Queen has heard your lament. I am certain that this will end soon.

 

[HAL9000]

The same reason we say "The Beatles are..." as opposed to "The Beatles is..." Because it would be mental. It's the name of a collective.

 

[who?]

Corporations are groups of people as are teams. Since corporation is a collective noun it is the same as a plural.

 

[who?]

http://www.quickanddirtytips.com/education/grammar/collective-nouns?page=all

 

[WelshBloke]

Where did that thread about these differences go?

Calling french fries as chips is where they started the battle.

At least our name for chips doesn't change with what else is on the plate.

Burger on the plate... Fries.
Take the burger off, add some chops... Still fries.
Take chops off and add some fried fish. Fuck me! My fries have magically turned into chips!

 

[WelshBloke]

A corporation is a single entity.

No

 

[Mixolydian]

No

Yes.

 

[Agent11]

Makes more sense than to think of a corporation as some sort of monolithic entity entity really.

 

[CZroe]

"Tick" instead of "check" as in "tick the box." Doesn't "check" have universal understanding in English?

 

[Fenixgoon]

I hate "data are" - it should be used as a collective noun, like "group" (since data is a group of datum or a body of information)