"The public are advised to have civic sense" vs "The public is advised to have civic sense"

Question

"The public are advised to have civic sense" vs "The public is advised to have civic sense"

Both phrases are correct, but they are used in different contexts. 'The public is advised to have civic sense' is more commonly used in American English, where collective nouns are often treated as singular. 'The public are advised to have civic sense' is more common in British English, where collective nouns can be treated as either singular or plural.

Last Updated: March 26, 2024

This phrase is used in British English, where collective nouns like 'public' can be treated as either singular or plural. It means that the advice is directed at the group of people as individuals.

Alternatives:

the public are advised to show civic sense
the public are encouraged to have civic sense
the public are reminded to have civic sense
the public are urged to have civic sense
the public are instructed to have civic sense

This phrase is used in American English, where collective nouns like 'public' are often treated as singular. It means that the advice is directed at the entire group of people as a single entity.

Alternatives:

the public is advised to show civic sense
the public is encouraged to have civic sense
the public is reminded to have civic sense
the public is urged to have civic sense
the public is instructed to have civic sense

Answer 1

The public are advised to have civic sense

This phrase is correct and commonly used in British English.

Answer 2

The public is advised to have civic sense

This phrase is correct and commonly used in American English.

"The public are advised to have civic sense" vs "The public is advised to have civic sense"

The public are advised to have civic sense

The public is advised to have civic sense

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