Research and Development Is vs. Research and Development Are – Which is Correct?
When “research and development” names one business function, use the singular verb “is”: “Research and development is essential.” Use “are” only when the words refer to separate plural activities, people, or items, usually with an explicit plural subject. In standard professional writing, “research and development is” is the safer default choice.
Research and Development Is or Are – Which is Correct?
“Research and development is” is usually correct because research and development commonly functions as a single, combined business activity or organizational field. The phrase is often treated as a singular uncountable noun, similar to marketing, manufacturing, or finance.
Use “are” when the sentence clearly treats research and development as two separate plural activities, groups, or responsibilities. In that case, the sentence usually includes a plural noun after the phrase or uses a different plural subject.
The Best Trick to Remember the Difference
Use the one-function test: if research and development work together as one department, budget, function, or field, choose is. If the sentence means two separate things that happen independently, choose are. In business writing, replace the phrase with this function. If “this function is” sounds right, use “research and development is.”
| Word | Part of Speech | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| is | Singular present form of the verb be | Shows that one combined function or activity exists or has a quality | Research and development is a major investment. |
| are | Plural present form of the verb be | Shows that plural subjects exist or have a quality | The research and development projects are expensive. |
How to Use Is
Is is the third-person singular present-tense form of be. Use it after a singular subject, including a collective or uncountable phrase. Because research and development usually describes one integrated business function, it normally takes is.
This construction is especially common in formal, technical, academic, and professional writing. It can describe the function’s importance, cost, location, purpose, or condition.
Example 1: Research and development is central to the company’s long-term strategy.
Example 2: Research and development is conducted at the firm’s main laboratory.
Example 3: Our research and development budget is increasing next year.
What are the different forms of Is?
Is is an irregular form of the verb be. It is used with singular third-person subjects, such as he, she, it, and singular nouns. The related forms include am, are, was, were, being, and been.
In the phrase research and development is, the verb agrees with the phrase as a single field or function. The phrase can also appear in contractions, such as research and development’s, although avoiding contractions may be preferable in highly formal documents.
Etymology of the word Is
Is comes from Old English is, the third-person singular form of the verb meaning “to be.” It is related to similar forms in other Germanic languages and ultimately descends from an ancient Indo-European verb expressing existence or being.
How to Use Are
Are is the present-tense form of be used with plural subjects and with the pronouns you and we. It is not normally used directly after research and development when that phrase represents one combined organizational function.
However, are can be correct when the sentence refers to plural nouns associated with research and development. For example, research and development projects are and research and development teams are are standard constructions because projects and teams are plural subjects.
Example 1: The company’s research and development projects are entering the testing phase.
Example 2: Research and development teams are collaborating across three countries.
Example 3: The research and development activities are divided between two laboratories.
What are the different forms of Are?
Are is an irregular present-tense form of be. It is used with plural nouns and with you and we. Its other forms include am, is, was, were, being, and been.
When are appears in a sentence containing the words research and development, check the actual grammatical subject. In research and development activities are important, the subject is activities, not the combined phrase itself.
Etymology of the word Are
Are developed from an Old English plural form of the verb be, influenced by related forms from Scandinavian languages. Over time, it became the standard present-tense form used with plural subjects and with you.
Related Concepts
Understanding subject–verb agreement and compound noun phrases makes it easier to choose between is and are after research and development.
- Subject–verb agreement: A verb must match its grammatical subject in number. Singular subjects generally take is, while plural subjects take are.
- Compound noun phrases: A phrase joined by and can describe either two separate items or one established combined concept. The intended meaning determines the verb choice.
- Uncountable nouns: Terms describing fields, disciplines, or activities often behave as singular nouns. This is why research and development is is common.
- Head nouns: In a longer noun phrase, the head noun controls agreement. In research and development programs are, the head noun is programs.
Examples from Media and Literature
Professional journalism, corporate reports, and nonfiction commonly treat research and development as one business or scientific function. The following examples demonstrate natural usage patterns:
- Business news: “Research and development is becoming a larger part of the technology company’s annual budget.” Here, the phrase refers to one corporate function.
- Corporate reporting: “Research and development is focused on improving battery performance.” The singular verb describes the company’s integrated activity.
- Science journalism: “Research and development is essential to turning a laboratory discovery into a practical product.” The phrase represents one broad process.
- Industry analysis: “Research and development teams are working with universities.” The verb agrees with the plural noun teams.
- Technical reporting: “The research and development projects are scheduled for review.” The plural noun projects controls the verb.
Is Synonyms
| Synonym | Definition |
|---|---|
| exists | Has reality or presence |
| remains | Continues to be in a particular state |
| represents | Serves as or stands for something |
| constitutes | Forms or makes up something |
Are Synonyms
| Synonym | Definition |
|---|---|
| exist | Have reality or presence when used with a plural subject |
| remain | Continue in a particular state when used with a plural subject |
| represent | Stand for or symbolize something when used with a plural subject |
| constitute | Form or make up something when used with a plural subject |
Frequently Asked Questions
Question 1: Is “research and development is” grammatically correct?
Yes. It is the standard choice when research and development refers to one combined business, scientific, or organizational function.
Question 2: Can I ever use “research and development are”?
Usually, no, when the phrase stands alone as the subject. Use are after a plural noun associated with the phrase, as in research and development projects are innovative. In an unusual context where research and development are intentionally presented as two separate activities, are may be defensible, but rewriting the sentence is often clearer.
Question 3: Should I say “research and development is” in formal business writing?
Yes. Treating the phrase as singular is the clearest and most widely accepted choice in reports, proposals, academic writing, and corporate communications.
Question 4: Why does the word “and” not always require “are”?
Although and often joins two subjects that require a plural verb, some established phrases describe one unified concept. When research and development names one integrated function, singular agreement is appropriate.
Conclusion
Use “research and development is” when the phrase describes one integrated function, department, discipline, or business activity. Use “are” with a plural noun such as projects, teams, or activities. Pro Tip: In professional writing, choosing the conventional singular form helps your grammar sound precise, polished, and credible.
