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David Lloyd - 28 Dec 2003 08:40 GMT

I wrote "There is such a thing as cowboy customers" and got told it should
be "There are such things as cowboy customers"

Am I wrong?

DL

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Larry Trask - 28 Dec 2003 16:18 GMT

> I wrote "There is such a thing as cowboy customers" and got told it should
> be "There are such things as cowboy customers"
>
> Am I wrong?

I wouldn't describe your version as wrong, but I agree that the second
version is much better style. The problem with your version is that
it treats cowboy customers as a single entity, which is an unlikely
interpretation.

Larry Trask
larryt@sussex.ac.uk

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Adrian Bailey - 28 Dec 2003 16:39 GMT

> > I wrote "There is such a thing as cowboy customers" and got told it should
> > be "There are such things as cowboy customers"
> >
> > Am I wrong?

No.

> I wouldn't describe your version as wrong, but I agree that the second
> version is much better style. The problem with your version is that
> it treats cowboy customers as a single entity, which is an unlikely
> interpretation.

Which is an unlikely interpretation of what?

Adrian

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Mark Wallace - 31 Dec 2003 22:29 GMT

> I wrote "There is such a thing as cowboy customers" and got told it should
> be "There are such things as cowboy customers"
>
> Am I wrong?

Both are correct English, but I personally prefer the second.

--
Mark Wallace
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For the intelligent approach to nasty humour, visit:
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http://earth.prohosting.com/mwal/
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Discussion Groups / English Usage / December 2003

Is or Are?