Grammar Manners

   The standards of usage are largely upheld by copy editors at daily newspapers. But sometimes, too close attention to fixed, hidebound "rules" can mislead even the best copy editors. A moment's thought, for example, would have saved the New York Times editorial page from this:

"A variety of polls also shows ..."

   We can hear the debate even at this distance in time and space.
   A/ The governing noun is "A variety," obviously singular, so the verb must be "shows."
   B/ That's silly, because that makes "polls shows," which is obviously a mismatch of plural and singular, and therefore wrong.
   C/ But the governing noun is not just the one word "variety." It's the entire noun phrase, and the sense of it is plural. That makes the vote two to one in favor of the plural verb "show."
   A/ You're both wrong. Look at the indefinite article. It's an "A," which is singular.
   B/ But "polls" are plural ...

Yada, yada, yada.

   Here's where the chief copy editor steps in, with his samurai pencil.
   When in doubt, rephrase. Change the whole thing to "Several polls," or "Many polls." This makes clear the plurality and doesn't distract the reader or start street fights.