Dear 1L, Please stop writing “they” when referring to “company”

Dear 1L,

Please stop writing “they” when referring to “company.”

If you question that, below is a short explanation, along with a question for those across the pond:

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In the U.S. English, and legal English, that I’ve always know:

🔹 A “company” is called a “collective noun.” Other common, legal-writing collective nouns include:  

department

family

group

entity

Congress

organization

🔹 A collective noun takes a singular pronoun and a singular verb.

✏️ The collective-noun designation does not disappear, either, just because you are talking about one particular collective noun.  

Thus,

✅  ABC Co. is an “it” that “is.”  

📍 ABC Co. is not a “they” that “are.”

✅ The Tax Department is an “it” that “is.”

📍 The Tax Department is not a “they” that “are.”

Has something changed that makes the above inaccurate?  Please do tell.

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⭐️ UK and British-English folks:

Is the above true where you are?  I understand that in the UK, the word “team” should be referred to as a “they” that “are.” 

I am unaware, however, whether the difference for team also alters the treatment of other collective nouns.  

Please pipe in!

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Thank you.

Fondly,

💌 Amanda

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