Compound Subject

•    Compound Subject Joined by and. With and, a plural verb is usually Correct.
       The nurse and the physician are discussing my case.

A singular verb should be used if the 2 elements are thought of as a unit:
        Dilation and curettage was suggested,

Or refer to the same person or thing:
        The first author and principal investigator takes responsibility for the data analysis.

 

•    Compound Subject Joined by or or nor.  With a compound subject joined by or or nor, the plural verb is correct if both elements are plural; if both elements are singular, the singular verb is correct. When one is singular and one is plural, the verb should agree with the noun closer to the verb.
 

Both plural:
Neither hospital staff nor family members were in the room.
Both singular:
Neither a false-positive result nor a false-negative result is definitive.
Mixed:
Neither the physicians nor the hospital was responsible for the loss.

 

Source: AMA Manual of styles

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