<p>Everything I am writing sounds off today (I think I need more caffeine). This is my phrase:</p>
<p>" . . . using stories as a tool for teaching . . . "</p>
<p>Correct? “Stories” (plural) can be “a tool” (singular) – or should it be “stories as tools”?</p>
<p>I would go with “stories as tools” or “storytelling as a tool”</p>
<p>I think a plural can be “an example”. For instance, grapes are an example of fruit best eaten fresh. Dogs are an example of animals that must be licensed. It’s not the individual grape or dog that’s the example, it’s the collective grapes or dogs. They each comprise a single group within the category (fruit best eaten fresh; animals that must be licensed).</p>
<p>These comments are an example of the kinds of things I say that might be wrong. :)</p>
<p>In your example ‘using’ is a gerund and singular in number. The ‘tool for teaching’ is the use of stories. Changing the phrase to ‘using stories as tools for teaching’ alters the meaning, in effect turning the stories into individual tools. As others have suggested, there are alternative ways to phrase the basic idea, and you might feel more comfortable with one of them. By the way, I think the basic idea is a very good one.</p>