Tell me more ×
English Language & Usage Stack Exchange is a question and answer site for linguists, etymologists, and serious English language enthusiasts. It's 100% free, no registration required.
up vote 1 down vote favorite

In math, we use the term series a lot, and there are many types of series.

How should I craft my sentence when I have three different ones in mind to talk about? Should I settle down for a less mortal alternative of “list of series” or something like that?

The existing question on The possessive and plural forms of “series” suggests the usage of series’. But is that all?

If that’s the only solution, then could you please explain the usage of apostrophe symbol at the end? Is that a plural marker or a possessive marker, or both?

share|improve this question
5  
I fail to see where in the linked question it suggests that the plural of series were series'. It only does so for the possessive. Wiktionary, Merriam-Webster, and the Free Dictionary all say that the plural is "series". You yourself have just written, "I have 3 different series in mind". I am not sure what questions are still left. – RegDwighт♦ Feb 23 '12 at 15:37
@RegDwightѬſ道 Moreover, the true reason for why the plural and/or possessive of nouns like species and series must be invariant is quite interesting, and merits discussion. See my comment to John. – tchrist Feb 23 '12 at 15:49

closed as general reference by RegDwighт♦ Feb 23 '12 at 15:38

This question is too basic; it can be definitively and permanently answered by a single link to a standard internet reference source designed specifically to find that type of information. See the FAQ for guidance on how to improve it.

1 Answer

up vote 1 down vote accepted

Series (like deer, salmon, and sheep) is pronounced and spelled the same in the plural as in the singular. If either the singular or the plural is used as a possessive, an apostrophe is added to show that in print, though there is no pronunciation difference in speech. Thus,

  • The series doesn't converge. (singular)
  • The series don't converge. (plural)
  • This series' limit is unknown. (singular possessive)
  • These series' limits are unknown. (plural possessive)

More examples can be seen here.

share|improve this answer
1  
This is true, but for quite different reasons. Terms of venery—game animals we hunt—are often invariant: elk,deer,bison. In the case of series, we have the phonological suppression of any /ɨz/ inflectional suffix, whether for plural or possessive or both, on all nouns already ending in /iːz/: series, species, Diogenes, Achilles, Archimedes. This is the real law that underlies the unexplained hand-wavy rule about classical possessives, like Achilles’ tendon. Other examples: 1 species is, 2 species are, 1 species’ name is, 2 species’ names are. Completely invariant in pronunciation. – tchrist Feb 23 '12 at 15:46
@tchrist Hmm, you say there are two different reasons, but then you don't give a reason for the first case. WHY are names of game animals unchanged in the plural? Do you know? Now that you bring it up, it's an interesting question. – Jay Feb 23 '12 at 17:49
Nobody really knows why; and it's not only beasts of venery -- sheep also has a Zero plural, but bear, wolf, and crow don't. And species, series, etc. are all Greek and Latin words, borrowed intact with the Greek and Latin plurals (if any), which are all invariant (Fifth Declension nouns for the most part). – John Lawler Feb 23 '12 at 18:12
Possessive is another matter, since English only borrowed nominative forms. Proper names that end in /s/ or /z/ are rather peculiar when it comes to adding plural {-Z₁} and possessive {-Z₂} suffixes, and that shows up in print, too; consider the Joneses, the Joneses' cat, Protagoras's Principle, etc. – John Lawler Feb 23 '12 at 18:12
1  
@JohnLawler It’s not just the adding of an /ɨz/ inflection; it’s that you only ever get one of them no matter whether it’s possessive or plural, so plural possessives still have just one /ɨz/, and that the rare /iːz/ nouns can take zero /ɨz/ inflections, whereas the rest can take one but not two. Historically possessive /ɨz/ was also suppressed in the formulaic for goodness’ sake, for conscience’ sake, for righteousness’ sake. Unrelatedly, remember also the old in speciē and in seriē, which were ablative singulars of speciēs and seriēs. I think specie may still be used for money. – tchrist Feb 23 '12 at 18:36
show 3 more comments

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged or ask your own question.