Singular team names

Yeah, I know we've gone over this, but it never applied to me before.

So is it: The Heat are playing the Bulls ... OR ... The Heat is playing the Bulls

My actual sentence is in regards to a local softball team.

 

Works for me. It reads better that way, anyway.

 

Went to the ACES convention in Miami in April. Asked the Washington Post's chief copy editor this question myself. He said...

The Heat is....
The Jazz is....

I go with that.

 

I understand that. Maybe because both my parents are English teachers I prefer what the Wash. Post guy said. I don't like it when people on TV say "The Heat are...." I think it sounds weird. But, I can see where people would think "The Heat is..." is weird, too. Is there any way to find out if there is a definitive hard-and-fast rule to for this?

 

The WaPo copy chief is wrong. But if a paper wants to create its own style, that's their/its prerogitive.

The AP stylebook says it's Heat are, Jazz are, etc., etc. It's ARE for any team.

 

Where does it say that -- what entry -- Idaho? I'm not being a smartass, I've just never seen it. Of course, I wouldn't have asked if I had.

 

Every paper I've ever worked for has used singular verbs for the ``non-s'' teams such as the Heat, Jazz and Galaxy. That, and the fact that is has always sounded correct to me, means I'm going with ``Heat is ...''

 

I understand both sides of the argument, but I agree with da man. I know English rules are sometimes bent a little in journalism, but this is one I don't think should be messed with.

 

I've been torn on that one myself, but I seem to remember being taught to use singular verbs with singular team names before. I guess I liken them the same to referring to the city as in "Boston is," but I can see a number of situations where it does read well as a plural.

I'm going to go to my various style books tonight and see what rules some places have.

 

Just because I'm nit picky: "in regard to"

 

How interesting that I would make that mistake. It really irritates me when people write or say towards.

 

Totally agree. I've never seen it written as "Heat is ..." Until this thread, that is.