This tag applies to questions that deal with grammatical number: “singular” versus “plural”, and (rarely) also “dual”.
1
vote
2answers
618 views
What is the possessive form of a singular noun ending with a plural s?
I would tend to treat a company name as singular and would therefore write the possessive form with 's. Now, my company refers to its international operations by placing the country name behind the ...
4
votes
3answers
222 views
“Blue-green algae is/are present in the lake”?
I was once walking round one our local lakes with my family and there was a sign that read:
Blue-green algae is present in the lake [emphasis added]
I maintained that it should be are, however ...
1
vote
0answers
24 views
“Data shows” Vs “Data show” [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
Is “data” considered singular or plural?
I was reading a book in which the author has used the sentence as follows:
Data show that unemployment in America is in ...
1
vote
2answers
186 views
When can you pluralize uncountable nouns?
I have a two part question, the second depending on the answer of the first. I don't know if that is frowned upon, but I'm not sure how else to ask.
Foil is an uncountable noun so it is not ...
0
votes
1answer
1k views
Using “are/is” after a list with “and/or” [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
Singular or plural following a list
James and Mark are going to help you.
Here, I use 'are' because the subject is plural.
James or Mark are going to help you.
...
5
votes
3answers
381 views
Number agreement when using “(s)” for optional plural
I have a question about the following construction and which instance is correct.
Selecting an appropriate study topic(s).
Selecting appropriate study topic(s).
When it is both singular ...
3
votes
1answer
54 views
switch genders or gender?
Recently I read an article on Wired.com "Apple Hires Hacker Who Helped Save Windows From Security Hell", http://www.wired.com/wiredenterprise/2012/12/apple-hires-hacker/
Here is a sentence I'm kind ...
11
votes
3answers
283 views
Difference in usage of “rock” and “rocks”
Recently, I came across this situation where I was asked which one was correct:
Fossils are found in sedimentary rock.
Fossils are found in sedimentary rocks.
Is there is distinction ...
8
votes
2answers
473 views
Usage of English definite article when referring to generic word
My mother language does not have articles, so I still struggle to choose when to use the indefinte and definite article. The other day, I learned:
"The dog is an animal" is acceptable.
"The iron is ...
2
votes
2answers
233 views
Recipe — “spoonfuls” seems right but it seems wrong too [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
Why are certain single word compound nouns pluralized in the middle
Drop by spoonfuls, 2 inches apart, onto a greased baking sheet.
Spoonful or spoonsful? Seems it ...
2
votes
2answers
209 views
What’s the plural of “Valentine’s”
If I want to form the plural of “Valentine’s” as a short form of “Saint Valentine’s Day” – where do I put the apostrophe(s)? Is it possible at all?
I believe that Valentines’, although the normal ...
0
votes
1answer
259 views
Can the word “personnel” ever be singular? [closed]
Can personnel be used in reference to a single person? See the example below:
Testing must take place by a qualified personnel other than the requestor.
0
votes
1answer
198 views
Use of “What kind”, and “What kind” vs “Which kind”
If we want to know the exact kind of a group of brids, should we say:
A: "What is the kind of these birds?"
or
B: "What kind of birds are these birds"?
If the questions above are phrased ...
2
votes
1answer
64 views
“There lie targets” vs. “there lies targets”
I have a sentence:
However, until then it is obvious that there lie intermediate “targets” — foo, bar and baz.
Is the use of lie in this way correct? The targets still exist, so I don’t want ...
1
vote
0answers
28 views
plural nouns: should I add “s” ending to both nouns? [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
“User accounts” or “users account”
“BookList” or “booksList?”
Is it correct to say “lesson count” or “lessons count”?
should a list of tokens be called a “token list” ...
-2
votes
3answers
610 views
Most is vs most are [closed]
Which of these two is correct?
Most company is private
Most companies are private
In general, should most be used with a singular or plural noun? And will the verb "be" be plural or singular?
2
votes
1answer
137 views
When do you use 'monies' in plural? [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
Money vs Monies
I have seen the plural of money, monies, used. It sounds a bit awkward but extravagant and I like the sound but not sure when it is correct to use it ...
1
vote
0answers
25 views
Do's and don'ts - wrong apostrophe? [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
“Do’s” and “don’ts” or “do’s” and “don’t’s”?
I always see Do's and don'ts, but in my opinion it must be "Dos and don'ts", or is there any rule where there is an ...
1
vote
3answers
915 views
Was/were exception rule [closed]
My kid's English teacher is teaching that there is exception in use of was/were
"WAS she and her sister at the zoo?" is right.
"WERE she and her sister at the zoo?" is wrong.
AFAIK "She and her ...
2
votes
3answers
309 views
Correct usage of USD
I am currently writing an essay, I have to state there is a $1 million prize for something. What is the correct way of stating this amount?
I have gone with "one million USD", do you think this is ...
5
votes
2answers
183 views
Plural of “Animus/Anima”
What is the plural of the words “animus” and “anima”? In any context (literary, Jung psychology, apothecary etc.). Is there English v. Latin differences? Interwebs are no help: versions differ from ...
7
votes
3answers
355 views
What is the plural form of trademarked product names, specifically of the term “WordPress”?
On the stackexchange site WordPress Answers, we recently discussed the plural form, or whether one exists at all, of the system we all use.
WordPress is a free and open source blogging tool and a ...
0
votes
2answers
80 views
“Censorship” as a countable noun [closed]
Is censorships a legitimate word? Obviously it could be used to mean multiple censorships for something.
2
votes
1answer
82 views
“Some is controversial, and some is my opinions” — is this grammatical?
I came across the expression
... some is controversial, and some is my opinions.
Is this correct? I wonder if “... some are my opinions” might be more correct.
0
votes
2answers
299 views
Most of the world thinks I'm awesome. The rest have not met me yet. have or has? [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
When “most is” and when “most are”?
I am having a dilemma here...
"Most of the world thinks I'm awesome. The rest have not met me yet." - the rest of the world has not ...
2
votes
2answers
186 views
When “most is” and when “most are”?
Most corn seed is genetically engineered.
Most people in town are unemployed.
Most fish is/are seawater species?
Is there any general rule that separates where the majority part ...
1
vote
1answer
387 views
Beer vs Beers : Units vs Purchasing
I have run into a conundrum.
When I go to get some friends cans of beer I say:
You guys want a beer?
When I am referring to going to a bar and drinking some I say:
Let's go get some beers!
...
2
votes
1answer
97 views
Plural of “the [x] of [y]”
What is the proper usage between 1) and 2)?
1) "Determine the values of the coefficients."
2) "Determine the value of the coefficients."
Each coefficient has one value in this context.
Similarly, ...
2
votes
1answer
99 views
Can plural you be followed by was, not were? [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
Historical usage of “was”/“were” with “you”
We was gonna have some fun
‘All’ below may be regarded as the singular, but can the plural of ‘you’ be followed by ‘was,’ ...
0
votes
1answer
364 views
Using “do” or “does” for two things connected by “and”? [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
Singular or plural following a list
Does your mother and father know about this?
Do your mother and father know about this?
What does "this" and ...
0
votes
0answers
228 views
Use of the word must in a sentence [closed]
I have these two sentences.
There exists an integer k such that...
There must exist an integer k such that...
I feel that both of these sentences are grammatically correct, but I'm not sure ...
1
vote
1answer
135 views
Subject–verb agreement: “are” versus “is” [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
Singular or plural following a list
My apples and orange are wrong
What is correct?
Her ripples, her current, her momentum is the fountainhead of science.
Her ...
5
votes
2answers
186 views
Uses of the word “lyrics”
I have a doubt on the uses of the word lyrics. I would like to know how it is used by a native English speaker.
The Concise Oxford English Dictionary says: lyric noun (also lyrics) the words of a ...
20
votes
3answers
885 views
What is the optional plural form of a word that ends in “‑y”?
I guess “optional plural” is the correct term. I’m referring to things like
It can be found at the following location(s).
Please pick up your ticket(s).
But how do I do that to a word that ends ...
1
vote
2answers
582 views
Is “fireworks” singular or plural?
As I understand, when referring to a single concept, one would use "ham and cheese is", but "fruit and nuts are".
Now, can one have a single firework, or is/are fireworks simultaneously singular and ...
3
votes
1answer
152 views
Apostrophe and plurals of abbreviations [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
What is the correct way to pluralize an acronym?
I was in Middlesbrough yesterday and spotted:
CJ’s Cafe
So far, so good, I thought. A selection of the delights within ...
2
votes
2answers
239 views
Plural forms which end in -x such as tableaux
Words borrowed from French and ending in -eau originally had plural forms which appended an -x rather than an -s. For e.g., the plurals of tableau, beau, and plateau were tableaux, beaux, and plateaux ...
1
vote
2answers
97 views
Relic and relics [closed]
Reliquary is a receptacle, often made of precious metal and richly decorated, in which a religious relic or relics are kept, as a small box, casket, or shrine.
In this sentence that I copied from ...
1
vote
1answer
924 views
“40-50 years old” vs. “40-50 year olds” when referring to a group
In formal research, which is more correct, and why:
the group of 40-50 years old
OR
the group of 40-50 year olds
In any case the phrase in bold is to be treated as a noun only, as in:
The ...
0
votes
1answer
313 views
“These stuff” vs. “this stuff” [closed]
I wrote “I know all these stuff; I don’t have to go over them again” in my writing-exam paper and the teacher corrected it to read, “I know all this stuff; I don’t have to go over it again.”
The ...
4
votes
2answers
1k views
Is “sushis” the plural form of “sushi”? [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
Should nouns borrowed from Japanese be pluralized?
I am having a hard time trying to find out the plural form of "sushi". Is it "sushis" or something else?
1
vote
1answer
170 views
Should the word “commission” be used in singular or plural in these cases?
I don't know what would be grammatically correct, commission or commissions, in the following sentences:
We will pay you commission(s) for each client you refer to us.
You can track your ...
1
vote
2answers
207 views
“Neither of you understands him as I do” [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
Which is correct, “neither is” or “neither are”?
“Neither Michael nor Albert is correct” or “Neither Michael nor Albert are correct”?
Neither of you understands him ...
4
votes
3answers
423 views
Can “another” be used with plural nouns provided periods or measurements don’t count?
Merriam-Webster says about another the following:
being one more in addition to one or more of the same kind
—http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/another
However, I come across such ...
0
votes
0answers
18 views
Should I use “have been” or “has been” when I talk about two different things? [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
Singular or plural following a list
Of these two sentences, which is correct?
A reflexion and an analysis has been done.
A reflexion and an analysis have been ...
1
vote
2answers
96 views
When talking about many things that all have one thing, do you use the plural or singular?
If you have something like:
Get the name(s) of all users.
Should name be singular or plural?
The way I see it, each user has only one name, so it could be singular, but you will be getting many ...
4
votes
2answers
349 views
Does the plural include the singular?
Does the plural include the singular? And if so, in what sort of cases?
This question has arisen because of the example sentence below.
Amendment shall be permitted only in cases of:
1. deletion ...
0
votes
2answers
467 views
If collective nouns use the plural verb form, are they plural in other contexts too? [closed]
According to Wikipedia, in British English, it is generally accepted that collective nouns can take either singular or plural verb forms. How does this affect their property of being singular or ...
3
votes
1answer
702 views
When should we use proximity rule in “either/or”, and “neither/nor”?
According to this link, if at least one of the nouns involved is plural then it should take the plural form of the verb. Otherwise, it should take the singular form of the verb. But in the last part ...
0
votes
0answers
14 views
“Acme Ltd provide” vs. “Acme Ltd provides” [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
Are collective nouns always plural, or are certain ones singular?
I'm a little confused if I should be using provide or provides in the following situation.
Acme ...
