0

  • I have spoken with Education Unit who has requested a contract.

  • I have spoken with Education Unit who have requested a contract.

Which of the above is most acceptable in British English?

Community
  • 1
Shanice
  • 1
  • @FumbleFingers Do you think 'which have requested a contract' would make sense to a sound grammarian? – Andy Semyonov Apr 01 '15 at 17:12
  • @Andy: Not sure what "make sense" means there. The meaning is the same (and obvious) in all variations, but I personally wouldn't accept I spoke to the department which have* my records, for example, and who has* is just as bad there. As I implied, singular *which has* is fine by me - but I'm perfectly happy with plural *who have* as well. – FumbleFingers Apr 01 '15 at 17:40
  • Marked as a duplicate, because the BrE answer there gives the answer. – Andrew Leach Apr 01 '15 at 17:53
  • @FumbleFingers I meant, if the usage would be acceptable by saying if it'd make sense to a grammarian. A simple answer that problem is using the that determiner. That have, that has are in no contradiction with good writing style. – Andy Semyonov Apr 01 '15 at 18:28
  • @Andy: Nobody mentioned "that" before. I was simply making the point that the acceptability of "who" and "which" depends partly on plurality (besides "antropomorphization").. – FumbleFingers Apr 01 '15 at 18:41
  • Point taken and I think I've given an answer to the conundrum arising out of the said determiners. – Andy Semyonov Apr 01 '15 at 18:50

1 Answers1

0

I think, based on this, see 5.3.3, that the 2nd might be preferred in BrE/BE by some, but there's quite a variability from a speaker to another. See the 2nd para wrt lack of consistency.

Marius Hancu
  • 7,714
  • No, I believe the first is unacceptable in all varieties of English. If you use who, then you have to use have, even in American English. (Unless the Education Unit is a job title for a single person.) – Peter Shor Apr 01 '15 at 19:57
  • @Peter Shor great point, I kind of missed that "who." – Marius Hancu Apr 01 '15 at 20:14