Common Mistakes : Authority
Authority – Noun
BAD: Those who bend the rules are reported to the authority
GOOD: Those who bend the rules are reported to the authorities
BAD: The authority had refused them even their basic civil rights
GOOD: The authorities had refused them even their basic civil rights
To refer in a general way to the officials who make all the important decisions in a country, use the authorities : The authorities estimate that nearly 100,000 immigrants have entered the country illegally
As a countable noun, authority refers to an official group or organization that controls an area or activity: You can claim housing benefit from your local authority