>>But isn't there a difference in the Brit usage of number when refering to groups. Wouldn't you say "The team are practicing" where we would say the "The team is practicing" ?
>
>I'd say "the team is practicing". But if someone arrived and said "Where are the team?" I'd be forced to answer "They're on th epitch". Where I come from I think most paople would say "Where's the team?" but, then again, colloquuially we'd say "There's lots of people in the square" rather than "There are lots of people in the square" mainly due to laziness in that you can't say "there're ..." very easily.
>
>So I don't think people adhere to any rule really.

My impression is that the British version especially applies to companies. Where Americans say "Microsoft is doing x," Brits would say "Microsoft are doing x," no?

Tamar