jack112  +  91390 Tue, 19 Apr 05 08:21 AM 1. Exams = failed. How do I say this ? Is it: 2. Exams equals failed. Or 3. Exams equal failed. Thanks. jack112 Joined on Thu, Jul 22 2004 Regular Member 715

	haoqide  +  91522 Tue, 19 Apr 05 05:08 PM I'm not sure I understand what you're trying to communicate with this. Can you give us more information as far as the context? Thanks. -Haoqide haoqide Joined on Mon, Jul 5 2004 Nashville, TN Full Member 307

	pieanne  +  91526 Tue, 19 Apr 05 05:19 PM Exams = failure Exams = a failure? Yes, it would be better with some context! pieanne Joined on Thu, Jan 20 2005 South of France ...But I'm Belgian! Veteran Member 7,517 I'm glad to help, but I'm not a native! And please excuse my typos...

	jack112  +  91598 Tue, 19 Apr 05 09:31 PM Okay, I'm going to put a situation up instead of using context. Scenario: I see a lot of people with MSN screen names, ICQ names, AOL names, etc. Once of the names was like this: Exams=Failed. I just want to know how do I say this? 1. Exams=Failed. Do I say it like this: 2. Exams equals failed. or 3. Exams equal failed. Hope this helps. Thanks. jack112

	nona the brit  +  91604 Tue, 19 Apr 05 09:47 PM I see what you mean. Equal goes with plurals. Cars equal transport. Babies equal sleepless nights. Equal goes with singulars. A car equals transport. A baby equals a sleepless night! An exam equals failed. Exams equal failed nona the brit Joined on Wed, Sep 22 2004 England Veteran Member 11,713 The name says it all. Plurals

	CalifJim  +  91651 Wed, 20 Apr 05 02:52 AM I just want to know how do I say this? 1. Exams=Failed. The mathematical symbol '=' is always said "equals" in my opinion. 2 = 5 - 3 "Two equals five minus three." "two" is plural, but there is no good reason in mathematics to use "equal" in such a structure. We're talking about the quantity (singular) 2, not about two things. I see no reason to change this principle when words substitute for numerals. When the word "equal/equals" is itself written out in a non-mathematical context, the difference should be observed as with all other verbs, of course. CJ CalifJim Joined on Mon, Aug 2 2004 California Veteran Member 22,465 "There are no facts, only interpretations" - Nietzsche Verbs, Plurals

	lookfar  +  92299 Fri, 22 Apr 05 04:53 AM Thats just it: the originator meant it to be a failed attempt. This is at the heart of the cyber text movement in that the geek and the hipster have collided head-on, and a paradigm shift is at hand! Alert the media...? "-Cats living with dogs... mass hysteria" -Peter Venkman lookfar

	jack112  +  111147 Tue, 21 Jun 05 10:34 AM personal choice rule here So is it really a personal choice rule here? Scenario: I see someone on MSN/AOL/ICQ with this: 'Driving at night with a deflated tire and driving in the rain = terrible tonight.' 1. Driving at night with a deflated tire and driving in the rain = terrible tonight. (So I can say 'equal' or 'equals' ? What about this? 2. Driving at night with a deflated tire and driving in the rain equal terrible tonight. (I don't have the mathematical symbol '=' here? So is 'equal' right here?) And what about this? 1. Driving at night with a deflated tire + driving in the rain = terrible tonight. (I have the '+' sign here. For the '=' sign, do I say 'equals' here? Or 'equal' ? It is 'equals' right?) Thanks. jack112