🔤 Grammar Guide: Nouns

Using nouns clearly as subjects, objects, possessives, and modifiers

A noun names a person, place, thing, idea, action, or condition.

Nouns often act as the subject of a sentence. The subject tells whom or what the sentence is about. Nouns can also act as objects, show possession, or work with other words to add meaning.

An object receives the action of a verb or completes the meaning of a preposition. In The council approved the budget, budget is the object. In The meeting is about housing, housing is the object of the preposition about.

Singular and plural nouns

Use singular nouns for one person, place, thing, idea, action, or condition. Use plural nouns for more than one.

Problem:
The agency reviewed several policy.
Better:
The agency reviewed several policies.

Problem:
Each departments submitted a report.
Better:
Each department submitted a report.

Hint: Words such as each, every, and one usually point to one thing, even when the sentence mentions more than one.

Possessive nouns

Use possessive nouns to show ownership or another close relationship.

Problem:
The committees decision delayed the vote.
Better:
The committee’s decision delayed the vote.

Problem:
The residents concerns shaped the proposal.
Better:
The residents’ concerns shaped the proposal.

Use ’s for one noun: the committee’s decision.
Use an apostrophe after s for most plural nouns: the residents’ concerns.

For more detailed guidance on apostrophes, see the punctuation entries in Garbl’s Editorial Style and Usage Guide.

Collective nouns

A collective noun names a group, such as a committee, council, team, staff, or family. When the group acts as one unit, use a singular verb.

Problem:
The committee are meeting tonight.
Better:
The committee is meeting tonight.

Hint: When you mean the individual members, rewrite the sentence if needed.

Better:
The committee members are divided.
The council members disagree about the proposal.

Hint: Rewriting often avoids awkward choices about whether a group noun should be treated as singular or plural.

Nouns as subjects

The subject is the person, place, thing, idea, action, or condition the sentence is about. Make sure the verb agrees with the subject, not with a nearby noun.

Problem:
The list of proposed changes are long.
Better:
The list of proposed changes is long.

The subject is list, not changes.

Problem:
The effects of the new rule is unclear.
Better:
The effects of the new rule are unclear.

The subject is effects, not rule.

Nouns used as modifiers

A noun can sometimes describe another noun. In school board, school describes the kind of board. In budget hearing, budget describes the kind of hearing.

Hint: When one noun describes another noun, use the singular form unless the plural form is part of an official name, established term, or familiar expression.

Usually singular:
street repair plan
employee handbook
voter registration deadline
worker safety standards
consumer protection rules

Established or familiar plural forms:
Seattle Parks Department
U.S. Veterans Affairs
county communications office
sales tax

Problem:
The community needs more youth violence prevention programs.
Better:
The community needs more programs to prevent youth violence.

Hint: When a string of nouns sounds awkward or could confuse readers, rewrite it.

← Clear Writing Directory