Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

[nawee]

Hello,

When we talk about a person information that is kept by the company, is it "a record" or "records"? I don't know if I should count one person's details as 1 record or, since each file contains different types of information (from personal to official), it should in the plural form?

"The following is your (personal) record(s) according to the Human Resource Department's updated personnel database."

"If the above details are incorrect, please contact the Human Resource Department at [telephone number], [fax number] or [email address] to have your record(s) amended by [date]."

Could you also check if these 2 sentences sound natural in a professional letter or not.

Thank you very much,

Nawee

[CP]

I would amend the sentences to read:

"The following information comes from your personal records, according to the Human Resource Department's updated personnel database."

"If any of the above details are incorrect, please contact the Human Resource Department by [date] at [telephone number], [fax number] or [email address] to have your records amended."

Usually we use the singular this way: "We have no record of his ever working here."

More commonly, it is the plural that is used: "These are all the records I could find." "We keep records on all our employees." "The personnel records are stored in the basement." "I'll add that information to your tax records."
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[nawee]

CP,

Thank you for your suggestions.

I have just 1 follow-up question about the second sentence. Why is it "any of the above details are" and not "any of the above details is"? Isn't "any" a singular pronoun?

Thank you,

Nawee

[Anuradha Chepur]

1. Any is the negative/interrogative/conditional counterpart of some.


2. Any will be used in the singular with non-count nouns.
Is there any water/sugar left...?

It depends on the number of the noun in case of countable nouns.
If there is any problem, let me know.
If there are any problems, let me know.

So, I think any is not inherently singular as anybody/anyone are.