It seems to me that there is a major irony in this thread. In the first place, I
have to agree with those who said that both the singular and the plural versions
are correct -- everything depends on the meaning. Are "learning" and
"assimilating" considered as one thing, or as two? If the writer considered them
as basically identical, then the writer should have used the singular:

"Learning and assimilating new information is always easier when the information
is presented in a familiar pattern."

On the other hand, some of us see "learning" and "assimilating" as distinct.
Students can learn the definitions that many of the members of this list give
them, but that does not mean that the students necessarily "assimilate" them (if
we are using that term as Piaget would have). Had I written the sentence, I would
have used "are."
Ed V.

Carolyn Kinslow wrote:

> My thanks to all who responded to my request for help. My camp was
> obviously correct in contending that the verbal phrase called for a
> singular verb. I appreciate the confirmation.
> Carolyn
>
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