'form(s) is (are) displayed' vs 'form(s) is/are displayed'

[Tamara]

Hi

Which option do your prefer to use in writing when don’t know precisely the 'plurality' of the subject:

In general, the highest level form(s) is (are) displayed...
or

In general, the highest level form(s) is/are displayed...
?

And... how would/do you do it in spoken language?
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[Alan]

Morning Tamara,

Not too sure what you mean by 'highest level form' in your sentence. Clearly a plural subject warrants a plural verb. Could you elucidate please?

A
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[Tamara]

Morning Alan,

It’s just a particular example from some... technical guide.
Perhaps, not the best...

Well, for my (language) question it doesn't actually matter, would the subject be 'form(s)' or 'list(s)' or 'boy(s)' or something else.

You just have a subject that may be singular or plural in particular cases (you can't know that before) – and you should take into account both possible cases, when talking about and 'apply' the verb.
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[Yankee]

Hi Tamara

I'd say the most likely way to do this in spoken English would be:

In general, the highest level form or forms are displayed...

So, why not just do it the same way in writing?

Amy

[Alan]

Please Miss, but what does this mean?

[Tamara]

Well, Alan… if your question is not linguistic, I’ll try to answer, instead. Since it was my context.

The phrase is actually the beginning of the sentence taken from a guide on MS Access 2003 (software application).

Form is a special type of objects (‘documents’, normally used to organize entering data in a user-friendly manner).
You can also create sub-forms defining some kind of form hierarchy (main form, etc).

There are also some form properties and options that determine how each form IS displayed when you’re working with multiple formS.

In particular, the form(s) of the highest level (the highest level form(s), see the above) IS/ARE generally displayed in the view (mode) that differ from the view in which the form(s) of the lowest level is/are.

Trying not to overload my question by unnecessary details, I just used the subject and the verb of the sentence to give an example.
Sorry, if it made a muddle.
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[Tamara]

[Alan]

Hi Tamara,

In gear now cerebrally. Thanks. I was stuck in first gear thinking 'form' was being used to mean 'type'.

A
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