Collective nouns
From TechWriter Wiki
A collective noun is a noun that refers to a collection of things (such as 'committee', 'team', or 'audience'). Special attention needs to be paid to collective nouns, as the verb may be singular or plural. The rule is: If attention is on the group as a whole then use the singular form of the verb; if attention is on the individuals that comprise the group then use the plural form of the verb.
Examples:
| Correct usage | Why |
|---|---|
| The audience was restless. | The audience is acting as a whole - i.e. a single entity - so the singular form of the verb should be used. |
| The audience were talking among themselves. | The audience are acting as individuals, so the plural form of the verb should be used. |
