the staff have not attended vs the staff has not attended

Both phrases are correct, but they are used in different contexts. 'The staff have not attended' is used in British English, where collective nouns like 'staff' are often treated as plural. 'The staff has not attended' is used in American English, where collective nouns are often treated as singular.

Last updated: March 27, 2024 • 3820 views

This phrase is correct in British English, where collective nouns like 'staff' are often treated as plural.

"the staff have not attended "

This phrase is commonly used in British English to indicate that the staff, as a group, have not attended an event or meeting.

Show examples from the web [+]

Some 350 members of staff attended the meeting.
It can be recorded that the Ombudsman and his staff attended 80 conferences, seminars, etc. in 2003 and the Ombudsman has visited almost all Member States, both old and new.
Could she advise me of the total cost of the trip, and of how many staff attended with her?
Ninety-seven staff members attended courses held by the European School of Administration, 5263 attended in-house training courses, and 225 attended outside courses.
How many staff from the Commission attended the recent World Economic Forum in Davos?
The staff have all chipped in for the memorial service.
All the staff have gone to the parade.
Only the staff have keys, but it's not difficult to get in.
Too many of the staff have sticky fingers.
Erm, some of the staff have decided to help out... and for this, we ask you to forgive us.
The staff have asked that you say a few words to the men.
The staff have already told us that you were not at work on that night.
Proceedings can be initiated only in cases where officials or members of the temporary staff have failed to comply with their obligations under the Staff Regulations.
And the staff have to be on fixed contracts, whereas temporary staff have to be for precisely that - for work which is only temporary.
Therefore, neither the building nor the staff have any connection with the Commission.
The deadline for final installation in Parma expired over a year ago, yet only one third of the staff have transferred and the Agency's activities continue to be directed from Brussels.
At their own initiative, members of staff have created an in-house trade union, the Union of the Staff of the European Central Bank (USE).
As well as being one of the oldest residents... she's also the only one to possess her own key to the front door... since she often gets back from late-night gigs with the chorus... well after all the staff have gone to bed.
which shall also apply once the staff have left the employ of the external service provider or after the suspension or termination of the contract
inadequate key control - support paid to ineligible beneficiaries (compulsory training not attended)

Alternatives:

the staff members have not attended
the team have not attended
the employees have not attended
the group have not attended
the crew have not attended

This phrase is correct in American English, where collective nouns are often treated as singular.

"the staff has not attended "

This phrase is commonly used in American English to indicate that the staff, as a collective unit, has not attended an event or meeting.

Show examples from the web [+]

Some 350 members of staff attended the meeting.
It can be recorded that the Ombudsman and his staff attended 80 conferences, seminars, etc. in 2003 and the Ombudsman has visited almost all Member States, both old and new.
Could she advise me of the total cost of the trip, and of how many staff attended with her?
Ninety-seven staff members attended courses held by the European School of Administration, 5263 attended in-house training courses, and 225 attended outside courses.
How many staff from the Commission attended the recent World Economic Forum in Davos?
The problem is that the staff hasn't bonded.
So the staff has agreed to donate them to the homeless kids at McKinney-Vento.
There are 11 rooms with "do not disturb" signs that the staff hasn't entered today.
The staff has all gone home.
It has come to my attention that a certain officer amongst the staff has been actively undermining my position.
An additional problem that occurs is that once the staff has been recruited and properly trained, the retention of this staff becomes extremely difficult.
The staff has nicknamed him "the zombie."
The applicant shall submit a description or evidence of those processes within the Safety Management System that are related to STAFF, including evidence that they meet the requirements of the national rules and/or relevant TSIs and that the staff has been duly certified.
inadequate key control - support paid to ineligible beneficiaries (compulsory training not attended)
Ancillary White House staff has been evacuated.
Chief of staff has a steep learning curve.
Commission staff has only irregular access to IDP camps.
If national standards of education are not attended to, the result is a critical level of social inequality.
More than 40% of women in Africa have not attended primary school.
In Northern Uganda alone, 2500 children have not attended school during the last 20 years of armed violence.

Alternatives:

the staff member has not attended
the team has not attended
the employee has not attended
the group has not attended
the crew has not attended

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the staff have not attended vs the staff has not attended