All or None

 

 

by Tyler Krupa

This week, we address a common grammar error for writers: verb agreement with the pronouns all or none. Note that these pronouns can be singular or plural. The general rule to follow is that when the noun that follows all or none is singular, you should use a singular verb; when the noun is plural, you should use a plural verb (for additional information on collective nouns, see the supplemental materials to the Publication Manual). Examples of both terms being used correctly are listed below:

All of the information was correct. None of the evidence was admissible. All of the rats were tested daily. None of the participants were aware of the purpose of the experiment. All of Smith et al.’s (2010) research supports our findings. None of the material provided by the university was used. All of the experiments were conducted in the laboratory. None of the data were used in the final analysis.

We hope these examples help to clear up any confusion regarding verb agreement with these terms. However, if you still have questions, feel free to leave a comment.