(2) When the subject is a collective noun which represents a number of persons or things taken as one unit; as,—­

     The larger breed [of camels] is capable of transporting a
     weight of a thousand pounds.—­GIBBON.

     Another school professes entirely opposite principles.—­The
     Nation.

     In this work there was grouped around him a score of men.—­W. 
     PHILLIPS

     A number of jeweled paternosters was attached to her
     girdle.—­FROUDE.

     Something like a horse load of books has been written to
     prove that it was the beauty who blew up the booby.—­CARLYLE

This usage, like some others in this series, depends mostly on the writer’s own judgment.  Another writer might, for example, prefer a plural verb after number in Froude’s sentence above.

[Sidenote:  Singulars connected by or or nor.]

(3) When the subject consists of two or more singular nouns connected by or or nor; as,—­

     It is by no means sure that either our literature, or the great
     intellectual life of our nation, has got already, without
     academies, all that academies can give.—­M.  ARNOLD.

     Jesus is not dead, nor John, nor Paul, nor Mahomet. 
     —­EMERSON.

[Sidenote:  Plural form and singular meaning.]

(4) When the subject is plural in form, but represents a number of things to be taken together as forming one unit; for example,—­

     Thirty-four years affects one’s remembrance of some
     circumstances.—­DE QUINCEY.

     Between ourselves, three pounds five shillings and two pence is
     no bad day’s work.—­GOLDSMITH.

     Every twenty paces gives you the prospect of some villa; and
     every four hours, that of a large town.—­MONTAGUE

     Two thirds of this is mine by right.—­SHERIDAN

     The singular form is also used with book titles, other names, and
     other singulars of plural form; as,—­

     Politics is the only field now open for me.—­WHITTIER.

     “Sesame and Lilies” is Ruskin’s creed for young
     girls.—­Critic, No. 674

     The Three Pigeons expects me down every moment.—­GOLDSMITH.

[Sidenote:  Several singular subjects to one singular verb.]

(5) With several singular subjects not disjoined by or or nor, in the following cases:—­

(a) Joined by and, but considered as meaning about the same thing, or as making up one general idea; as,—­

     In a word, all his conversation and knowledge has been in the
     female world—­ADDISON.