@kewpie saidI think procrastination has a certain negative connotation. Attendant thereto, I think deliberation is the more positive counterpart to procrastination. The dictionary may not back me to the hilt but it's all about usage and our living language.
No, just do it more effectively, after you've taken time to consider your own actions as well as those of others. Procrastination improves outcomes. Or it eliminates them.
@kewpie saidBeat me to it. Very nicely explained.
You're right that "is" follows the implied singular "sum", but in fact the whole sentence is invalid.
Four and four are simply two nouns; try replacing them with any two other nouns. Cow and horse is/are livestock?
On the other hand, using symbols makes it a valid numerical statement. 4 + 4 = 8.
@ghost-of-a-duke saidYes they did exist but died out 6000 years ago.
Did dinosaurs actually exist?
(At least twice in my life I've had to have this conversation,....with an adult).
@kewpie saidThe language used to talk about arithmetic and numerals does not need to be the same as the language used to talk about livestock.
try replacing them with any two other nouns. Cow and horse is/are livestock?
"A cow and a horse" is not an arithmetical sum and cow and horse are not numerals being added together in a sum.
Another way of looking at it is to recognize the implicit ellipsis: ["the sum of"] four and four is eight.
On the other hand, using symbols makes it a valid numerical statement. 4 + 4 = 8.
What I see when I look at "4 + 4 = 8" is "four plus four equals eight".
"Equals", conjugation: third person singular.
Certainly not "equal".
Perhaps it is a British or other dialect thing?
@the-gravedigger said“These United States are ….” prior to 1863, but “The United States is …“ thereafter.
Colchester United are on the attack: but Ipswich Town are holding on.