Singular or Plural: Where are the RSCDS???

Andrew C Aitchison

March 11, 2006, 6:38 p.m. (Message 44634)

On Sat, 11 Mar 2006 xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx@xxx.xxx wrote:

> would say (and write):  "Where IS the RSCDS, where WAS the RSCDS?"  Is this 
> colloquial usage in British English (singular collective noun + plural verb) 
> quite common or merely optional?  Would it also be considered correct in a more 
> formal setting?

I *think* I was taught that treating an organisation as plural is 
required; think of it as:
	a big disappointment that RSCDS [dancers] were noticibly absent
versus
	a big disappointment that [the] RSCDS was noticibly absent

Andrew