Is it special "guest" or "guests"?

[Sir GuitarCozmo]

My band is working on doing some openers, starting with one for my old band, so I'm doing up a promo flyer for it and have the term "with special guest" and our band name/logo "Scarlett".  I'm not sure if it should be special guest singular, because the band Scarlett is a single entity or special guests plural, because the band is a group of several individuals.  I've seen it both ways and I guess it REALLY doesn't matter, it's more nitpicky than anything, but I'm curious what anyone else thinks.

[BlobVanDam]

Hm, if you make it singular, people might mistake you for a chick named Scarlett. But if you make it plural, people will expect more than one guest entity.

Maybe "with special guest band"? Is that a thing perhaps?

[bosk1]

You are referring to the entity, so I think "guest" is more grammatically correct.  But since the plural is so widely accepted and generally sounds more correct even though it isn't, I might go that route instead.

[hefdaddy42]

With Special Guest

SCARLETT


It's guest.  If it were Simon & Garfunkel, it would be guests.

[cramx3]

I believe if your band is the only opener, or special guest, then it should be singular.  Not sure anyone would complain if you said guests though

[El Barto]

With Special Guest

SCARLETT


It's guest.  If it were Simon & Garfunkel, it would be guests.

I think Simon & Garfunkel would still be singular. They're performing as a group. If they were performing separately then it would be special guests Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel.

[bosk1]

With Special Guest

SCARLETT


It's guest.  If it were Simon & Garfunkel, it would be guests.

I think Simon & Garfunkel would still be singular. They're performing as a group. If they were performing separately then it would be special guests Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel.

I agree.  Again, the entity is what is being referred to, and that is singular.  But, again, it is one of those situations where, correctness aside, it doesn't sound right, so convention is to often use the plural form even though it isn't technically correct.

[El Barto]

With Special Guest

SCARLETT


It's guest.  If it were Simon & Garfunkel, it would be guests.

I think Simon & Garfunkel would still be singular. They're performing as a group. If they were performing separately then it would be special guests Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel.

I agree.  Again, the entity is what is being referred to, and that is singular.  But, again, it is one of those situations where, correctness aside, it doesn't sound right, so convention is to often use the plural form even though it isn't technically correct.

I think clarity would be more important than sound, though. In the S&G example they could be performing as a duo or playing separately and the syntax would convey that.

[TAC]

[cramx3]

They are British though 

[bosk1]

They are British though 

  Yeah, that.  Plus, as I said, it has just become the convention to use either form.  Once it becomes generally accepted practice, it just is what it is.  Kinda like how a LOT of people nowadays think the term "meme" means any picture with a caption.  That isn't what the word means, but that usage has become such common convention that it's futile and pointless to insist that people stop using it incorrectly. 

[hefdaddy42]

Kinda like how a LOT of people nowadays think the term "meme" means any picture with a caption.  That isn't what the word means, but that usage has become such common convention that it's futile and pointless to insist that people stop using it incorrectly.

[bosk1]

  Yeah.  Precisely.

[Stadler]

With Special Guest

SCARLETT


It's guest.  If it were Simon & Garfunkel, it would be guests.

I think Simon & Garfunkel would still be singular. They're performing as a group. If they were performing separately then it would be special guests Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel.

I agree.  Again, the entity is what is being referred to, and that is singular.  But, again, it is one of those situations where, correctness aside, it doesn't sound right, so convention is to often use the plural form even though it isn't technically correct.

As much as I am loathe to go against the mighty Iron Maiden - even in matters of syntax - these two have it right.

I would use "Special Guest", then when I took the stage I would say "We're SCARLETT, and we know our fucking GRAMMAR!  ...two...three...four!" and slam into your opener.   That's very rock and roll. 

[TAC]

And when they play the M3 Festival, "We're Scarlett, and we know your gramma!" 

[cramx3]

 

[Sir GuitarCozmo]

We're not Steel Panther.

Yet.

your opener

Raise Your Hands