None Is vs. None Are

If you’ve ever been chided for saying “none are” instead of “none is,” there’s good news. While true that “none” can be singular if followed by a mass noun or if it is being used to mean “not one,” “none” can just as easily mean “not any” and take a plural verb.

Mass noun: None of the pie is left.

“Not one”: None of the books is interesting to me.

“Not any”: None of my friends are going.

So, the next time you use “none,” don’t be afraid to use the plural. It’s perfectly acceptable depending on the context of your sentence.