What is the correct grammar, everyone is or everyone are?

The Singular Truth: Why "Everyone is" is Correct

The seemingly simple question of whether to use "everyone is" or "everyone are" trips up many writers. While the plural "everyone" might seem to imply a plural verb, the grammatical rule is clear: "everyone is" is correct.

This stems from a fundamental principle of English grammar: agreement between subject and verb. The verb must match the number (singular or plural) of its subject. While "everyone" refers to a group of people, it functions grammatically as a singular pronoun.

Think of words like "everyone," "somebody," "anybody," "nobody," "everything," and "nothing." These indefinite pronouns, all ending in "-one," "-body," or "-thing," represent a collective group, but they are considered singular units. Therefore, they always take a singular verb.

Consider these examples:

• Correct: Everyone is invited to the party.
• Incorrect: Everyone are invited to the party.
• Correct: Somebody is knocking at the door.
• Incorrect: Somebody are knocking at the door.
• Correct: Everything is going according to plan.
• Incorrect: Everything are going according to plan.

The same principle applies to the words "every" and "each" when used independently. They inherently signify individual units within a larger group, thus requiring singular verbs.

• Correct: Every student is responsible for their own project.
• Incorrect: Every student are responsible for their own project.
• Correct: Each of the apples is ripe.
• Incorrect: Each of the apples are ripe.

The temptation to use a plural verb often arises from the intuitive understanding that "everyone" represents multiple individuals. However, grammar operates on a different level. It focuses on the grammatical function of the word, not its semantic meaning. In this case, the grammatical function of "everyone" is singular, leading to the correct usage of "is." Remembering this singular nature of these indefinite pronouns will significantly improve your grammatical accuracy. So, next time you're faced with this choice, remember: "everyone is" – it's the only grammatically correct option.