Now are (is) the time

"Now are the..." is almost always wrong. In idioms like "now is the time" the head noun (time, moment, chance, opportunity, season) is singular, so the verb must be singular: "is."

Quick answer

Use "Now is the..." not "Now are the..." Match the verb to the grammatical subject: when the head noun is singular, use "is."

Correct: "Now is the time to start."
Incorrect: "Now are the time to start."
If the head noun is plural (times, moments), use "are": "Now are the times we remember."

Core explanation

Find the head noun (time, moment, chance, opportunity, season) and match the verb to its number. In "Now is the time," "time" is singular, so the verb is "is."

Quick test: drop "now" and modifiers. If you get "The time is..." you need "is." If you get "The times are..." use "are."

Drop modifiers: "Now is the [right] time." → head noun = time (singular) → use "is."
If head noun = times/moments (plural), use "are."

Common pairs: wrong → right (copy these templates)

These templates show the typical error and the simple correction you can paste into your writing.

Wrong: Now are the time to act. →
Right: Now is the time to act.
Wrong: Now are the moment to apologize. →
Right: Now is the moment to apologize.
Wrong: Now are the chance we've been waiting for. →
Right: Now is the chance we've been waiting for.
Wrong: Now are the opportunity to improve procedures. →
Right: Now is the opportunity to improve procedures.
Wrong: Now are the season for change. →
Right: Now is the season for change.
Wrong: Now are the time for us to decide. →
Right: Now is the time for us to decide.
Wrong: Now are the best moment to negotiate. →
Right: Now is the best moment to negotiate.
Wrong: Now are the only chance to fix it. →
Right: Now is the only chance to fix it.

Real usage and tone

"Now is the time" works across registers but can feel formal or clichéd. Choose an alternative to adjust tone or reduce repetition.

Formal (reports, speeches): keep "Now is the time" and follow with a clear action.
Neutral (instructions): "It's time to..." or "This is the right time."
Casual: "Now's the time" or a direct imperative like "Let's do it now."

Work (formal): Now is the time to finalize the Q3 budget and present recommendations to the board.
School (neutral): Now is the time to submit your lab reports before the deadline.
Casual: Now's the time - pizza and a movie, who's in?

Rewrite help: three quick fixes you can paste in

If your sentence contains "Now are the...", either swap the verb or rephrase. These short patterns cover most contexts.

Formal/reports: "This is the time to [verb]..."
Neutral/instructions: "It's time to [verb]..."
Casual/messages: "Now's the time to [verb]..."

Wrong: Now are the time to submit your grant application. → Fix: Now is the time to submit your grant application. → Alt: This is the right time to submit your grant application.
Wrong: Now are the moment to address student concerns. → Fix: Now is the moment to address student concerns. → Alt: It's time to address student concerns now.
Wrong: Now are the time we should update the employee handbook. → Fix: Now is the time to update the employee handbook. → Alt: We should update the employee handbook now.

Try your own sentence

Test a sentence by removing "now" and modifiers and reading the short version aloud. That often reveals whether the subject is singular or plural.

Examples (work, school, casual) - ready to copy

These sentences keep the head noun singular so the verb is "is." Adjust the verb after "to" to fit your need.

Work: Now is the time to finalize the vendor list so procurement can start next week.
Work: Now is the time to address the compliance gaps identified in the audit.
Work: Now is the time to approve the hiring plan if we want new staff in place by July.
School: Now is the time to review chapters 1-3 before the midterm.
School: Now is the time to finalize your thesis statement and outline.
School: Now is the time to meet with your advisor if you plan to graduate next semester.
Casual: Now's the time - grab your coat and let's go.
Casual: Now is the perfect time to try the new café on Main Street.
Casual: Now is the time to catch up - free tonight?

Memory trick: one quick mnemonic

Drop "now" and speak the short sentence aloud. If you hear "The time is..." use "is." If you hear "The times are..." use "are."

Practice with four head nouns: time, moment, chance, opportunity.
If you hesitate, rewrite: "It's time to..." avoids the problem entirely.

Spacing, hyphenation and grammar traps to avoid

Do not insert hyphens or extra spaces when fixing the phrase. Avoid forms like "Now-is-the-time" or "Now 's the time" with an extra space.

Watch for errors that match the verb to a nearby plural instead of the actual subject; rearranging words can hide the head noun.

Correct: Now is the time to act.
Incorrect: Now-is-the-time or Now 's the time (extra space).
Trap example: "Now the reports are the time to decide" - here "reports" is the subject and forces a plural verb. Better: "Now is the time to decide about the reports."

Similar mistakes to watch for

The same approach-identify the grammatical subject, then match the verb-fixes many common errors.

"A number of students are..." vs "The number of students is..." - the head noun changes the verb.
Collective nouns: American English usually treats them as singular ("the team is"), though British English sometimes uses plural when emphasizing individuals.
"News" looks plural but is singular: "The news is good."

Wrong: The number of errors are increasing. →
Right: The number of errors is increasing.
Wrong (US): The team are playing well. → Right (US): The team is playing well.
Wrong: The news are on at six. →
Right: The news is on at six.

FAQ

Is "Now are the time" ever correct?

No. In standard English that exact phrase is incorrect because "time" is singular. You would use "are" only if the head noun is plural (for example, "Now are the times").

Why do people make this mistake?

Speakers often match the verb to a nearby plural word or an implied plural idea instead of the actual grammatical subject. Naming the head noun fixes the error.

Can I use the contraction "Now's the time"?

Yes. "Now's the time" is natural and correct in informal speech and writing. Use "Now is the time" in formal documents.

What's the fastest fix in a long sentence?

Locate the head noun (time, moment, chance, opportunity). If it's singular, replace "are" with "is." If the sentence still sounds awkward, rephrase: "This is the time to..." or "It's time to...".

Will grammar checkers catch this?

Most grammar checkers flag subject-verb agreement errors. Paste your sentence into a checker and it should recommend "is" when the head noun is singular.

Fix a sentence right away

Do the drop-test: remove "now" and modifiers, say the short sentence aloud, then match the verb. For longer drafts, run a grammar checker and apply the rewrite patterns above.