Why companies are singular

They just are, okay?

Longer version: Just like you, me and everyone except John Malkovich, each company is a single legal entity.

Fixation Video, frinstance, exists as a single thing. Currently it relies on Susi Weaser and me to support it, but as an entity it’s out there, making it on its own. One day it will be bigger than the both of us and may even turn against us. Hard to believe, but true.

If you’re ever unsure whether you’ve got it right, read back the sentence and replace the company name with Jon. If it sounds weird, ur doin’ it wrong. You don’t have to use Jon, you can also use Cynthia or Karen. All names work except James, as that’s plural to start with.

So. Example time:

Fixation Video are awesome! => Jon are awesome! => Internet cries a little bit more.

The staff of Fixation Video are awesome! => Totally okay. And also true.

You should also say its not their if you’re referring to the company and not their staff. Do you see what I did there?

Moar examples:

Fixation Video are getting a studio. You can rent their studio for less than their competitors’ => Wrongness.

Fixation Video is getting a studio. You can rent its studio for less than its competitors’ => No LOLCATS harmed!

There will be at least one non-deliberate grammatical error in this post. Pointing it out to me is your duty.

[Image robbed from: IMDB]