There is 1.1 g NaCl in 1 mL
There are 1.1 g NaCl in 1 mL
Which is right?
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1Is 1.1 grams plural? That's the question here.– LambieCommented Feb 28, 2020 at 20:22
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1You can dodge the issue with "1 mL of NaCl weighs 1.1 g".– Weather VaneCommented Feb 28, 2020 at 20:34
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What 'issue'? Decimals are plural.– Michael HarveyCommented Feb 28, 2020 at 20:49
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1 Answer
if you are writing for publication, or academic purposes, consult the appropriate style guide. Here is what the Chicago Manual of Style has to say:
Decimal quantities are considered to be plural; quantities expressed as fractions are considered to be singular. So write “0.8 miles” but “eight tenths of a mile.” For decimal forms, only the number one is singular: 1 mile. Once you add a decimal, even if it’s a zero, it becomes plural: 1.0 miles.
Thus: there are 1.1 g[rams of] NaCl in 1 mL [of something].
answered Feb 28, 2020 at 20:47
