Agreement preferences

Slides 16 and 17 of the video lesson on Agreement 2 have several sentences with my subject-verb agreement preferences that will no doubt not be acceptable to everyone. For example, some will prefer Neither of them was here and others Neither of them were here.

My own preferences in each case are based firstly on an assumption that the context is a formal presentation or piece of writing.

Making, in conversation, what some would call the wrong agreement decision is not something to worry too much about. But in formal contexts careful speakers or writers will seek to avoid triggering a negative response to a usage that the majority of highly literate readers or listeners are likely to find unacceptable.

Secondly, my preferences are based on the excellent analysis and recommendations of reputable, modern usage guides. The best one in my opinion is Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of English Usage on account of its/their (→ which one do you prefer?) historical perspective and modern common-sense treatment of the issue. Here is its (→ my preference) introduction to the concept of notional agreement. Its concluding paragraph starts:

"Notional agreement is something to which we don't often pay notice because it's almost instinctive, a part of our regular speaking habits. And it's not a set rule in its own right, but rather a matter of preference... ."

Also good for advanced learners and keen native speakers is Quirk, Randolph, et al. A Comprehensive Grammar of the English Language. Longman, 1994. (section 10.34)

Here is a good video that explains the agreement issue for English beginners. And here is another video on the topic for more advanced learners or native speakers.