Perhaps “is the limit” might be best, maintaining the link between a single ‘protection’ and a single ‘limit’, instead of as it currently stands with a single ‘protection’ and multiple limits. But then it does describe multiple limiting factors… so.. um.

Hmm. “is the limits” just doesn’t seem to read correctly to me.

Then again, you should have seen the first draft. “The only real protection – such as it is – are the very, very, very limited number of people who…” which said something entirely outrageously wrong

Yet the truth is that our only real protection – such as it is – are the limits on the number of people who…

ought, in my opinion, to read:

Yet the truth is that our only real protection – such as it is – is the limits on the number of people who…

(although some might argue that the verb ‘to be’ is a queer fish and that ‘are’ is also correct. Such is the joy of pedantry.)

103 comments. Scary.

Matt: wot Stu said, only I’d have had to go look it up.

Happy to help!

…Which reminds me, I should really get round to turning off these email notifications for Pedant’s Corner.

Looking for an old post, and no search box.

One passive way of increasing page impressions, I suppose ….

My blog is currently quieter than yours bwahahah. Ooops.

“Spelled”, surely?