Dick, Wouldn't "society at large" include "at-risk individuals"? If that's the case, then "as well as" is out of place; something like "especially at-risk individuals" would seem more appropriate. I think that's what's throwing you--"as well as" usually compounds, but you can't compound something by adding something it already includes. "Everybody, as well as at-risk individuals"... Seems goofy. Are "at-risk individuals" outside of mainstream (at large?) society. If so, then that should be make more explicit. Even so, the commas make it awkward. Here are my choices: Good policy will come when mainstream society as well as those outside the mainstream who are most at-risk are educated about HPV. (Commas would make it seem like an aside while "as well as" compounds. I would advise against it.) Good policy will come when society at large, especially those most at-risk, is educated about HPV. (This seems to me the best solution, provided it's in harmony with the writer's intentions.) Craig > A little help, please, with subject/verb agreement in a sentence. These > I have no trouble with: > > > > * Good policy will come when society at large is educated about > HPV. > * Good policy will come when at-risk individuals are educated > about HPV. > * Good policy will come when society at large and at-risk > individuals are educated about HPV. > > > > And pretty sure about this: > > > > * Good policy will come when society at large (not just at-risk > individuals) is educated about HPV. > > > > But what about this one? > > > > * Good policy will come when society at large, as well as at-risk > individuals, is/are educated about HPV. > > > > Do the commas make the second phrase an aside so that the verb should > agree with "society" only (i.e., "is")? Or do we treat "as well as" as > equivalent to "and," making "are" the right choice? I seek your informed > guidance on the matter. Any specific reference to authority is > especially welcome. > > > > Dick > > ________________________________ > > Richard Veit > Department of English > University of North Carolina Wilmington > > > > > To join or leave this LISTSERV list, please visit the list's web interface > at: > http://listserv.muohio.edu/archives/ateg.html > and select "Join or leave the list" > > Visit ATEG's web site at http://ateg.org/ > To join or leave this LISTSERV list, please visit the list's web interface at: http://listserv.muohio.edu/archives/ateg.html and select "Join or leave the list" Visit ATEG's web site at http://ateg.org/