<p>What is the correct way to say?</p>
<p>There IS a number of people, or there ARE a number of people?</p>
<p>Logically thinking it should be "is", as it refers to number (single) as opposed to people (pl.). But I encountered the "are" version much more often than "is", and when googling didn't see a definite answer... Help appreciated :)</p>
<p>I'm not sure, but I think it depends where the emphasis is:</p>
<p>There IS a number [of people].</p>
<p>vs.</p>
<p>There ARE [a number of] people.</p>
<p>I think American usage would formally call for IS (e.g., the band is coming tonight), while British would call for ARE (e.g., the band ARE performing at O2 tonight).</p>
<p>there are</p>
<p>number acts like a plural or a group</p>
<p>There are a number ...</p>
<p>"of people" describes "number". Number is more than one, not singular.</p>
<p>If number was one, then you would say: There is a person.</p>