ceramics are or is

English translation: ceramics are effective in dentistry

17:14 Feb 20, 2012
English language (monolingual) [PRO]
Tech/Engineering - Materials (Plastics, Ceramics, etc.)
English term or phrase: ceramics are or is
Please advise which is correct:

Y-TZP ceramics are effective in dentistry where their use increases every year.
Y-TZP ceramics is effective in dentistry where their use increases every year.
Y-TZP ceramic is effective in dentistry where their use increases every year.

The case in point is a ceramic material rather than products made from it
Nik-On/Off
Ukraine
Local time: 17:53
Selected answer:ceramics are effective in dentistry
Explanation:
As it stands, the verb should be in the plural. Other options could change this: "ceramic material is effective...", among others.
Selected response from:

Martin Riordan
Brazil
Local time: 12:53
Grading comment
Thank you all!
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



SUMMARY OF ALL EXPLANATIONS PROVIDED
4 +8ceramics are effective in dentistry
Martin Riordan
3 +2ceramic is
Tony M
4ceramic material
NancyLynn
4'Ceramics' an be either singular or plural
eski


Discussion entries: 2





  

Answers


3 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +8
ceramics are effective in dentistry


Explanation:
As it stands, the verb should be in the plural. Other options could change this: "ceramic material is effective...", among others.

Martin Riordan
Brazil
Local time: 12:53
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 4
Grading comment
Thank you all!

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  B D Finch: Yes, as it seems most likely that "ceramics" is used to refer to the class of materials, not just to a particular ceramic material.
20 mins
  -> Thanks, BD!

neutral  Tony M: As a class of products, I'd agree; but Asker has specifically explained that it involves one particular ceramic material from the manufacturer.
23 mins
  -> Thanks, Tony!

agree  Filippe Vasconcellos de Freitas Guimarães: "Y-TZP" stands for "yttria tetragonal zirconia polycrystal", a class of materials. Hence, "Y-TZP ceramics", as it is a range of products.
26 mins
  -> Thanks, F!

agree  Charles Davis
36 mins
  -> Thanks, Charles!

agree  eesegura
48 mins
  -> Thanks, eesegura!

agree  Jack Doughty
59 mins
  -> Thanks, Jack!

agree  Lara Barnett
3 hrs
  -> Thanks, Lara!

agree  airmailrpl: -
3 hrs
  -> Thanks, airmail!

agree  David Moore (X): BDF has explained this excellently above
15 hrs
  -> Thanks, David!
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4 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
ceramic material


Explanation:
A quick check on Google leads me to believe that ceramic is the material, and ceramics are the products.

NancyLynn
Canada
Local time: 11:53
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
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9 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
'Ceramics' an be either singular or plural


Explanation:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ceramic"Ceramic" may be used as an adjective describing a material, product or process; or as a singular noun, or, more commonly, as a plural noun, "ceramics".

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Note added at 11 mins (2012-02-20 17:25:06 GMT)
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he word "ceramic" comes from the Greek word κεραμικός (keramikos), "of pottery" or "for pottery",[2] from κέραμος (keramos), "potter's clay, tile, pottery".[3] The earliest mention of the root "ceram-" is the Mycenaean Greek ke-ra-me-we, "workers of ceramics", written in Linear b syllabic script.[4] "Ceramic" may be used as an adjective describing a material, product or process; or as a singular noun, or, more commonly, as a plural noun, "ceramics".[5]

eski :))

eski
Mexico
Local time: 09:53
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish, Native in SpanishSpanish
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7 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +2
ceramic is


Explanation:
If the emphasis is specifically on their material, then I'd use the singular throughout — imagine it as "XYZ ceramic material is..."

However, if it were "ceramic items made from XYZ are...", that would be a different kettle of fish.

'ceramics' can only really be followed by the singular when it means 'the art / technology / discipline of ceramics': "Ceramics is a field that offers lots of opportunities for young people."

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Note added at 28 minutes (2012-02-20 17:42:44 GMT)
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But of course, "where their use increases every year" would need to be changed too — though to be honest, that sounds pretty awkward to me in the first place; is this a translation RU > EN, if so, I'd advise re-working that end bit.

Tony M
France
Local time: 16:53
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 4

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Jenni Lukac (X)
3 mins
  -> Thanks, Jenni!

agree  Lara Barnett
3 hrs
  -> Thanks, Lara!
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