If you read sports journalism or corporate reports from around the world, you have likely noticed a puzzling contrast: an American news outlet writes, “The team is preparing for the championship,” while a British newspaper reports, “The team are preparing for the match.” When deciding between team is or are British American English conventions create distinct paths that can confuse students, international professionals, and ESL learners alike.

Both phrases can be grammatically sound. The deciding factor is whether your audience follows American English, British English, or another Commonwealth standard.

This guide breaks down the structural rules of collective nouns, explains the linguistic logic of both dialects, and provides more than 75 practical examples across daily speech, corporate communication, and academic writing.

The Core Grammar Rule: Formal vs. Notional Agreement

To understand why this split occurs, you need to understand how the two dialects treat collective nouns. A collective noun is a singular word that refers to a group of individuals (e.g., team, staff, committee, family, government, audience, jury).

┌────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│                   COLLECTIVE NOUNS                     │
├──────────────────────────┬─────────────────────────────┤
│  American English (AmE)  │    British English (BrE)    │
├──────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────┤
│ Formal Agreement:        │ Notional Agreement:         │
│ Matches grammatical form │ Matches intended meaning    │
│ Team = 1 unit → IS       │ Team = 1 unit → IS          │
│                          │ Team = individual people →  │
│                          │ ARE                         │
└──────────────────────────┴─────────────────────────────┘

1. American English: Formal (Syntactic) Agreement

American English prioritizes the grammatical form of the noun. Because the word team is grammatically singular (it does not end with an -s), American grammar rules demand a singular verb:

• The team is meeting at noon.
• The management team has decided to expand.

In standard American usage, treating a collective noun as plural is generally seen as an error. If an American writer wants to emphasize the individual members, they add the word members:

• The team members are sharing their thoughts.

2. British English: Notional Agreement (Synesis)

British English prioritizes the underlying meaning (sense) of the sentence over pure grammatical form. This linguistic principle is known as notional agreement (or synesis).

• Singular verb (is): Used when the group acts as a single, indivisible entity.
  • The team is the strongest in the league this season. (The team as an institution)
• Plural verb (are): Used when the members of the group are acting as distinct individuals or when highlighting their collective personal actions.
  • The team are putting on their warm-up tracksuits. (Individual people dressing themselves)
  • The team have returned to their hotel rooms. (Individual people moving to separate locations)

3. Commonwealth Standards (Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Ireland)

• Canada: Heavily influenced by American conventions. Canadians predominantly use “the team is,” though British constructions occasionally surface in sports journalism.
• Australia & New Zealand: Primarily follow British conventions. Both singular and plural verbs are accepted, with plural verbs heavily favored in sports coverage (“The Australian cricket team are touring the UK”).
• Ireland: Follows British notional agreement, switching between is and are depending on whether the team is viewed as a collective unit or a group of individuals.

Team Is or Are: British American English Rules Explained

Here is a quick reference table to help you decide which verb to use based on dialect, context, and pronoun choices:

75+ Categorized Examples

To master this rule across all writing contexts, explore the categorized examples below. Each example illustrates proper dialect-specific agreement.

Category 1: Basic Everyday Examples (1–10)

1. AmE: The soccer team is playing tonight.
   BrE: The football team are playing tonight.
2. AmE: Our home team is undefeated this year.
   BrE: Our local team are unbeaten this season.
3. AmE: The team is ready for the presentation.
   BrE: The team are ready for the presentation.
4. AmE: That youth team is exceptionally talented.
   BrE: That youth team are exceptionally talented.
5. AmE: The team is traveling by bus tomorrow morning.
   BrE: The team are travelling by coach tomorrow morning.
6. AmE: Which team is wearing the white jerseys?
   BrE: Which team are wearing the white kits?
7. AmE: The visiting team is warming up on the field.
   BrE: The away team are warming up on the pitch.
8. AmE: Our cleanup team is doing a fantastic job.
   BrE: Our clean-up team are doing a fantastic job.
9. AmE: The rescue team is searching the area.
   BrE: The rescue team are searching the area.
10. AmE: My favorite team is having a difficult year.
    BrE: My favourite team are having a difficult year.

Category 2: Intermediate Examples & Pronoun Agreement (11–20)

Notice how the pronoun (its vs. their) changes along with the verb:

11. AmE: The design team completed its review on schedule.
    BrE: The design team have completed their review on schedule.
12. AmE: The maintenance team has packed up its tools.
    BrE: The maintenance team have packed up their tools.
13. AmE: Every team is required to register its roster.
    BrE: Every team are required to submit their squad lists. (Note: “Every team” often takes singular in both, but BrE allows plural in subsequent pronouns).
14. AmE: The editorial team has updated its style guide.
    BrE: The editorial team have updated their house style.
15. AmE: Our sales team is celebrating its quarterly win.
    BrE: Our sales team are celebrating their quarterly win.
16. AmE: The security team is checking IDs at the entrance.
    BrE: The security team are checking badges at the gate.
17. AmE: The catering team is preparing its stations.
    BrE: The catering team are laying out their stations.
18. AmE: A championship team understands its weaknesses.
    BrE: A championship team understand their weaknesses.
19. AmE: The audio-visual team has tested its microphones.
    BrE: The AV team have tested their equipment.
20. AmE: That production team is renowned for its efficiency.
    BrE: That production team are renowned for their efficiency.

Category 3: Advanced Examples — Synesis & Divided Groups (21–30)

When a group’s members disagree or perform conflicting actions, British English naturally switches to plural verbs, whereas American English maintains singular forms or requires adding the word members:

21. AmE (awkward): The team is arguing among itself.
    AmE (preferred): The team members are arguing among themselves.
    BrE (natural): The team are arguing among themselves.
22. AmE: The debate team was split on the proposition.
    BrE: The debate team were divided on the motion.
23. AmE: The leadership team is unable to reach an internal consensus.
    BrE: The leadership team are unable to reach an agreement among themselves.
24. AmE: The team is casting its secret ballots right now.
    BrE: The team are casting their votes right now.
25. AmE: The executive team has dispersed to individual breakout rooms.
    BrE: The executive team have dispersed to their separate breakout rooms.
26. AmE: The product team is holding divergent views on the redesign.
    BrE: The product team hold conflicting opinions on the relaunch.
27. AmE: The strategy team was conflicted over resource allocation.
    BrE: The strategy team were divided over budget allocation.
28. AmE: The analytics team is sharing different interpretations of the data.
    BrE: The analytics team are presenting differing conclusions.
29. AmE: The panel team is voicing conflicting recommendations.
    BrE: The panel team are offering conflicting advice.
30. AmE: The inspection team is returning to its home offices.
    BrE: The inspection team are returning to their respective regional offices.

Category 4: Daily Conversation & Sports Commentary (31–42)

31. AmE: “The team is looking sluggish after the long road trip.”
    BrE: “The team are looking flat after that long away fixture.”
32. AmE: “England is playing well tonight!” (Referring to the national sports team)
    BrE: “England are playing brilliantly tonight!”
33. AmE: “Our local team has made the playoffs!”
    BrE: “Our local team have qualified for the play-offs!”
34. AmE: “The home team is taking the field now.”
    BrE: “The home team are walking out onto the pitch.”
35. AmE: “Which team is winning the scrimmage?”
    BrE: “Which team are ahead in the training match?”
36. AmE: “The defensive team is exhausted.”
    BrE: “The defensive unit are completely spent.”
37. AmE: “The whole team is going out for pizza.”
    BrE: “The whole team are heading to the pub.”
38. AmE: “The cycling team has crossed the finish line together.”
    BrE: “The cycling team have crossed the line together.”
39. AmE: “Boston is going to make a comeback.”
    BrE: “Arsenal are likely to mount a comeback.”
40. AmE: “The relay team is practicing its handoffs.”
    BrE: “The relay team are practising their baton changes.”
41. AmE: “The rowing team is gliding across the lake.”
    BrE: “The rowing eight are powering down the river.”
42. AmE: “No other team is matching their stamina.”
    BrE: “No other team are keeping pace with their intensity.”

Category 5: Academic & Research Writing (43–52)

In scholarly publishing, consistency and regional journal standards are essential:

43. AmE (APA/Chicago): The research team identifies three primary variables.
    BrE (Oxford/Cambridge): The research team identify three primary variables.
44. AmE: The archaeology team has excavated the northern quadrant.
    BrE: The archaeology team have excavated the northern trench.
45. AmE: The medical team administers the clinical trial following strict ethics protocols.
    BrE: The medical team administer the trial in accordance with ethical standards.
46. AmE: The field team has collected more than 400 biological samples.
    BrE: The field team have collected over 400 specimens.
47. AmE: The laboratory team publishes its findings in peer-reviewed journals.
    BrE: The laboratory team publish their findings in scientific literature.
48. AmE: The sociological survey team reports consistent participant response rates.
    BrE: The survey team report high engagement across demographics.
49. AmE: The paleontology team concludes that the specimen is prehistoric.
    BrE: The palaeontology team conclude that the fossil dates to the Jurassic era.
50. AmE: The interdisciplinary team has proposed an alternative hypothesis.
    BrE: The interdisciplinary team have put forward a fresh working thesis.
51. AmE: The archive team is digitizing 19th-century municipal ledgers.
    BrE: The archive team are digitising nineteenth-century regional registers.
52. AmE: The observation team notes recurring migratory behaviors.
    BrE: The observation team note distinctive flight paths among the flock.

Category 6: Corporate & Business Writing (53–64)

53. AmE: Our marketing team is launching the brand campaign next Tuesday.
    BrE: Our marketing team are launching the campaign next Tuesday.
54. AmE: The finance team has approved the Q3 operating budget.
    BrE: The finance team have signed off on the third-quarter figures.
55. AmE: The engineering team deploys software updates on Friday nights.
    BrE: The engineering team deploy software patches over the weekend.
56. AmE: The compliance team has conducted its annual internal audit.
    BrE: The compliance team have carried out their annual review.
57. AmE: The procurement team negotiates vendor contracts with third parties.
    BrE: The procurement team negotiate terms directly with suppliers.
58. AmE: Our executive team is aligned on long-term organizational goals.
    BrE: The board and executive team are agreed on strategic priorities.
59. AmE: The talent acquisition team has met its hiring quotas.
    BrE: The recruitment team have reached their staffing targets.
60. AmE: The customer care team is responding to tickets promptly.
    BrE: The customer service team are dealing with enquiries swiftly.
61. AmE: The legal team advises management to proceed cautiously.
    BrE: The legal team advise the board to seek indemnification.
62. AmE: The project team delivers progress updates during biweekly scrums.
    BrE: The project team circulate status reports ahead of fortnightly catch-ups.
63. AmE: The quality assurance team rejects defective manufacturing batches.
    BrE: The QA team reject any stock failing stress tests.
64. AmE: Our human resources team welcomes all new corporate hires.
    BrE: Our HR team welcome incoming staff during induction week.

Category 7: Professional Email Scenarios (65–74)

65. AmE: “Our team is looking forward to collaborating with your agency.”
    BrE: “Our team are looking forward to working alongside your agency.”
66. AmE: “The implementation team has reviewed your technical specifications.”
    BrE: “The roll-out team have evaluated your project requirements.”
67. AmE: “Please let me know when your team is available for a video call.”
    BrE: “Please let us know when your team are free for a brief call.”
68. AmE: “Our billing team is reviewing the discrepancy on your latest invoice.”
    BrE: “Our accounts team are examining the query on your statement.”
69. AmE: “The IT team is resolving the network issue right now.”
    BrE: “The IT team are currently investigating the server fault.”
70. AmE: “The operations team sends its sincere apologies for the delay.”
    BrE: “The operations team send their apologies for any inconvenience caused.”
71. AmE: “My team is eager to finalize the contract terms.”
    BrE: “Our team are keen to conclude discussions this week.”
72. AmE: “The logistics team has confirmed your shipment details.”
    BrE: “The logistics team have confirmed dispatch of your order.”
73. AmE: “Our support team stands ready to assist you around the clock.”
    BrE: “Our support team stand ready to help with any queries.”
74. AmE: “The onboarding team is preparing your account credentials.”
    BrE: “The onboarding team are setting up your system access.”

Category 8: Common Mistakes & ESL Trap Corrections (75–85)

The table below highlights frequent errors made by writers navigating these rules:

3 Easy Tips to Remember

1. The “Members” Safety Net (For American English)

If a plural verb sounds more natural because the people in the group are acting individually, insert the word members:

• Instead of: “The team are wearing different hats.”
• Write: “The team members are wearing different hats.”

2. Check Your Pronouns

Keep your verbs and pronouns consistent:

• American English: The team is updating its plan. (Singular verb + singular pronoun)
• British English: The team are updating their plan. (Plural verb + plural pronoun)

3. Sports Test: City Names vs. Nicknames

In sports journalism:

• US outlets treat team names as plural when the name itself is plural (The Boston Celtics are winning), but treat the city name as singular (Boston is winning).
• UK outlets treat both the club name and the city name as plural (Arsenal are winning; Manchester are leading).

Practice Exercises & Quiz

Test your understanding of British and American English rules below.

5-Question Quiz

1. Which sentence is standard in an American corporate annual report?
   a) The executive team are implementing new cost controls.
   b) The executive team is implementing its new cost controls.
   c) The executive team is implementing their new cost controls.
   d) The executive team are implementing its new cost controls.
2. In British sports journalism, which headline is most standard?
   a) Liverpool is confident ahead of the Champions League final.
   b) Liverpool are confident ahead of the Champions League final.
   c) Liverpool has been crowned champions after its victory.
   d) Liverpool are celebrating its victory tonight.
3. What makes this sentence problematic in formal US English?
   “The team has turned in their badges.”
   a) The verb should be have.
   b) You cannot turn in badges.
   c) The singular verb (has) clashes with the plural possessive pronoun (their).
   d) The noun team must always take a plural verb.
4. In British English, why is “The team are arguing among themselves” acceptable?
   a) Because team is an irregular plural noun.
   b) Because British English does not use the word is.
   c) Under notional agreement, the sentence emphasizes individual members in conflict.
   d) It is actually considered informal slang.
5. Choose the universally correct sentence for BOTH British and American English:
   a) Every team are ready to play.
   b) All team members are ready to play.
   c) Every teams is ready to play.
   d) All team is ready to play.

Answer Key and Explanations

1. b) The executive team is implementing its new cost controls.
   Explanation: American English requires singular agreement throughout: singular verb (is) and singular pronoun (its).
2. b) Liverpool are confident ahead of the Champions League final.
   Explanation: British media typically treat sports clubs as plural entities (are confident).
3. c) The singular verb (has) clashes with the plural pronoun (their).
   Explanation: In standard US style, keep agreement consistent: “The team has turned in its badges” or “The team members have turned in their badges.”
4. c) Under notional agreement, the sentence emphasizes individual members in conflict.
   Explanation: Synesis allows British writers to use plural verbs when a collective noun’s members act as separate individuals.
5. b) All team members are ready to play.
   Explanation: Adding the plural noun members creates direct plural agreement (members are), making the sentence correct across all English-speaking countries.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. Is “the team are” grammatically incorrect in the United States?

Yes, in standard American English writing (including AP, Chicago, and APA styles), writing “the team are” is treated as a subject-verb agreement error. American English requires singular agreement for collective nouns (“the team is”). If you want to use a plural verb, write “the team members are”.

2. Can you say “the team is” in British English?

Yes. British English allows both singular and plural verbs with collective nouns. You use “the team is” when viewing the group as a single, unified organization (“The team is based in London”), and “the team are” when emphasizing the individual people who make up the group (“The team are having their lunch”).

3. How do Canadian and Australian English treat collective nouns?

Canadian English follows American English in most professional and media contexts, favoring singular verbs (“the team is”). Australian and New Zealand English follow British conventions, frequently using plural verbs for sports teams, government groups, and musical bands.

4. What about other collective nouns like “government,” “staff,” and “family”?

These words follow the same regional rules:

• American English: The government is voting; The staff is helpful; My family is visiting.
• British English: The government are divided; The staff are helpful; My family are visiting.

5. How should multinational companies handle this in style guides?

Global organizations should choose one standard style guide for company-wide documents. If your company uses American English, standardize on singular verbs (The team is / its). If using British or Commonwealth English, allow plural verbs when emphasizing the individuals involved, and ensure pronouns match consistently.

Conclusion

Understanding when to use the team is or the team are comes down to regional conventions and agreement styles:

• In American English, use formal agreement: the team is an indivisible, singular unit.
• In British and Commonwealth English, use notional agreement: choose is when referring to the unit as a whole, and are when focusing on the individuals within it.
• Keep your pronouns matched throughout your sentence (is/its or are/their).

Align your writing with your target audience’s regional conventions to ensure your copy stays clear, polished, and professional wherever it is read.

Writing for a global audience? Bookmark this guide for quick reference, share it with your team, or explore our companion guide to British vs. American Spelling Rules to keep your international writing sharp and consistent.

Disclaimer: This article provides general educational guidance based on standard American (The Chicago Manual of Style, AP Stylebook) and British (Oxford Style Manual) conventions. Regional variations and specific organizational house styles may differ.

Also Read: Comma After However at Beginning Sentence: Complete Guide

Staff Is or Are: British & American English Explained

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