Smash and grab is a classification, or Smash and grab are a classification, which is grammar correct?
ChatGPT
ChatGPT

The correct grammar is "Smash and grab is a classification."

In this context, "Smash and grab" is treated as a singular concept or classification, so the verb "is" should agree with the singular noun.

[User]
You
the subject with "and" - should be plural?
ChatGPT
ChatGPT

When you have a compound subject joined by "and," the subject is typically plural, and you use a plural verb. However, there are exceptions, and sometimes the subject is considered singular if it represents a single idea or entity.

In the case of "Smash and grab," it refers to a specific type of criminal activity, often treated as a single concept or classification. Therefore, it would be grammatically correct to say "Smash and grab is a classification."

[User]
You
Who got the call to singular? the writer?
ChatGPT
ChatGPT

The decision to treat a compound subject joined by "and" as singular or plural depends on the context and the intended meaning of the writer. In the example "Smash and grab is a classification," the writer has chosen to treat "Smash and grab" as a singular concept or classification. This decision is based on the idea that "smash and grab" represents a specific type of criminal activity rather than two separate actions.

However, in other contexts or with different compound subjects, a writer might choose to treat them as plural. The choice depends on the writer's interpretation of the subject and the intended meaning of the sentence.

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Smash & Grab: Stealing the Season, a KNX News Town Hall

KNX News, Dec. 12, 2023 (Audio)

Our KNX News Town Hall dives into the retail theft crisis: how bad is it really, and what can be done to stop it? … Panelists include: … Charis Kubrin, professor of criminology, law and society at the UC Irvine School of Social Ecology [who said], “Smash and grab is a classification, it’s not a crime type and so while we know about shoplifting, commercial burglary, commercial robbery. Organized retail theft, of the kind you are talking about, we do not have systematic data and we mostly have to rely on what retail establishments claim are happening, in terms of the amount. So the answer is we don’t really know and that’s part of the challenge.”

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