singular or plural - A GROUP OF...

[MiaL]

Hi!

I'd like to know if both sentences are acceptable in English:
A group of children are having a party.
A group of children is having a party.

Thank you for your help,

Mia

[MikeNewYork]

Hi!

I'd like to know if both sentences are acceptable in English:
A group of children are having a party.
A group of children is having a party.

Thank you for your help,

Mia

In AmE, the second would be preferred; the first would not be rare.

[MiaL]

What about in British English? Is it completely wrong to use "is"? Is there a rule?

[MikeNewYork]

What about in British English? Is it completely wrong to use "is"? Is there a rule?

I don't think "is" would be wrong in Britain, but it would be less common than in the US.

[Tdol]

Mike's right; the singular can be used there in British English, but the tendency nowadays seems to be towards the plural for collective nouns.