Is it everyone is safe or everyone are safe?

The Singular They: Navigating the Grammar of “Everyone”

The seemingly simple question of whether to say “everyone is safe” or “everyone are safe” reveals a fascinating wrinkle in English grammar: the singular they. While intuitively, “everyone” suggests a plurality of individuals, grammatically, it functions as a singular pronoun. Therefore, the correct phrasing is “everyone is safe.”

This grammatical rule might seem counterintuitive. After all, “everyone” clearly refers to more than one person. However, English treats words like “everyone,” “everybody,” “anyone,” “anybody,” “someone,” “somebody,” and “no one” as singular, requiring singular verb conjugation. The subject pronoun refers to a collective, a single entity formed by the group, rather than each individual within the group. Think of it this way: “Everyone” represents a single, unified concept of a collective group.

The use of a singular verb maintains clarity and consistency in sentence structure. Imagine the potential ambiguity if we used plural verbs: “Everyone are going to the party” sounds jarring and grammatically incorrect, immediately throwing off the reader’s understanding. Sticking to the singular verb conjugation (“Everyone is going to the party”) avoids this confusion.

This grammatical rule extends beyond simple declarative sentences. Consider the following examples:

• Correct: Someone has left their wallet.

• Incorrect: Someone have left their wallet.

• Correct: Everybody is invited to the celebration.

• Incorrect: Everybody are invited to the celebration.

• Correct: No one knows the answer.

• Incorrect: No one know the answer.

The consistent application of singular verb agreement with these indefinite pronouns contributes significantly to the grammatical accuracy and overall readability of English. While the modern acceptance of “they” as a singular pronoun in some contexts adds a layer of complexity, the singular verb agreement with “everyone” and similar pronouns remains a fundamental rule of standard English grammar.

Therefore, remember: When referring to a group using words like “everyone” or “somebody,” always opt for a singular verb. Doing so ensures your writing is grammatically correct, clear, and easily understood. The simplicity of “everyone is safe” belies the underlying grammatical principles that make it the correct and preferred choice.

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