plans is working

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "plans is working" is not correct in written English.
It should be "plans are working" since "plans" is plural. Example: "Our plans are working well, and we are on track to meet our goals."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

The government, unlike many private health insurance plans, is working in the daylight.

The New York Times - Health

Betterlesson.com, a popular sharing site for lesson plans, is working to develop a video component.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

And complaints about how national banking rescue plans are working also emerged.

The New York Times

He likes to promote housebuilders and then demonstrate that his plans are working.

The Guardian - Arts

But so far, none of the plans are working very well.

The New York Times

The information is crucial for evaluating how well fishery management plans are working.

Science Magazine

Employment Minister Esther McVey said the figures were more evidence the government's economic plans were working.

BBC

Implement a strong performance management system to find out in real time how plans are working.

BBC

They will return next week to see if the council's improvement plans are working.

BBC

You may also find that some action plans are working and those original stressors are gone.

WikiHow

The plan is working.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Always ensure subject-verb agreement. Since "plans" is plural, use the plural verb form "are". For example, "The marketing plans are working well".

Common error

Do not use a singular verb form with a plural subject. The phrase "plans is working" incorrectly pairs the plural noun "plans" with the singular verb "is".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "plans is working" functions as a declarative statement, attempting to convey that certain plans are currently in operation and achieving a desired result. However, according to Ludwig, the phrase is grammatically incorrect due to a subject-verb disagreement.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Wiki

50%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Science

0%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "plans is working" is grammatically incorrect because it uses a singular verb with a plural subject. While there are a couple of examples of its use in news and media, as reported by Ludwig, it's essential to use the correct form, "plans are working", to maintain grammatical accuracy and credibility. Alternative phrases such as "plans are effective" or "strategies are working" can also be used to convey a similar meaning. Correcting this common error ensures clarity and professionalism in writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

plans are effective

Changes the verb to a descriptive adjective, emphasizing the effectiveness of the plans.

plans are succeeding

Replaces "working" with "succeeding", which implies a positive outcome and achievement of goals.

the plan is proving successful

Shifts the focus to a singular plan and uses "proving successful" to highlight its positive results.

the strategies are working

Replaces "plans" with "strategies", maintaining the plural subject but using a different term.

the initiatives are effective

Replaces "plans" with "initiatives" and "working" with "effective", offering a more formal tone.

the arrangements are functioning well

Substitutes "plans" with "arrangements" and adds "well" for emphasis, suggesting proper operation.

the schemes are yielding results

Uses "schemes" instead of "plans" and "yielding results" to convey that the plans are producing outcomes.

the projects are progressing

Replaces "plans" with "projects" and uses "progressing" to indicate advancement and development.

the proposals are bearing fruit

Uses "proposals" as a substitute for "plans" and "bearing fruit" to express the idea that the plans are producing positive results.

the policies are delivering benefits

Employs "policies" instead of "plans" and "delivering benefits" to emphasize the positive outcomes of the plans.

FAQs

What is the correct way to say "plans is working"?

The correct way to phrase this is "plans are working". Because "plans" is plural, it requires the plural verb "are" to ensure subject-verb agreement.

Is it ever correct to say "plan is working"?

Yes, "plan is working" is correct when referring to a single plan. For example, "The marketing "plan is working" as expected".

What can I say instead of "plans are working"?

You can use alternatives like "plans are effective", "plans are succeeding", or "strategies are working" depending on the context.

What's the difference between "plans are working" and "plan is working"?

"Plans are working" refers to multiple plans achieving the desired outcome, while ""plan is working"" refers to a single plan's success. The choice depends on whether you are discussing one plan or multiple plans.