Should we say “none is” or “none are”?

Question

I often hear people say ‘none is’ and others say ‘none are,’ and it’s really confusing. Which one is actually correct in modern English? Should I use ‘none is’ or ‘none are,’ and does the meaning of the sentence change depending on which one I choose?”

Svitlana · Accepted Answer

Both can actually be correct, and it depends on what you mean in the sentence. “None is” is usually used when you’re thinking about “not one,” so the idea is singular (e.g., None is ready yet). “None are” is more common when you’re talking about a group of things and mean “not any” (e.g., None are available right now). In modern English, especially in conversation, people often prefer “none are” when referring to plural things, so you’ll probably hear that more.

This confused me a lot when I was learning because some sources insisted that only the singular form was correct, which isn’t really how people speak. What helped me was seeing examples in real contexts rather than memorizing strict rules. I noticed this explained pretty clearly on KotoEnglish, where they show how grammar works in everyday usage, not just in textbooks. In practice, native speakers use both forms depending on what sounds natural in the sentence.

Claire · Accepted Answer

Totally agree with you.

Richard · Accepted Answer

"None are" is widely used in spoken English. I just see "none is" in writing.

John · Accepted Answer

"None are” sounds more natural.

Kai · Accepted Answer

Both are correct: None of this is true./ None of the students are here.

Should we say “none is” or “none are”?

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