Word Choice – Another

BizWritingTip reader: “I read the following sentence in one of today’s papers: ‘Another seven senior executives were let go around the same time ….’ Is this correct?”

BizWritingTip response: Good catch. This sentence is incorrect. The verb should have been “was.”

Whenever the word “another” appears in a sentence as a subject or as an adjective modifying a subject, the verb must be singular.

Examples

Another was chosen.
Another staff member was asked to attend.
One shipment went out this morning, and another is going out this afternoon.
Another seven senior executives was let go around the same time.

Other similar words that always take a singular verb are each, every, either, neither, one, and much.

Examples

Neither woman was available.
Much work is required to get ready for the presentation.
Each of us is going to work on a solution.

Isn’t English fun?