"average" sg./pl.?

[Avid Learner]

Hello,

In a US magazine, I've recently read the following sentence:

"There are an average of about 70 calls a day."

Why "are" and not "is", please? Isn't the emphasis here more on the average than on the calls?

Thanks in advance for any helpful hints.

 

[jutfrank]

I agree. I would use is in this sentence.

 

[emsr2d2]

There is an average of 70 calls a day.
There are, on average, 70 calls a day.