Number
Many persons of moderate education regard nouns that do not end with
_s_ or _es_ as singular. Even the gifted pen of Addison once slipped so
far as to betray him into using the word _seraphim,_ in the singular.
Cherubim, Seraphim
The words _cherub_ and _seraph,_ are singular. _Cherub, _as applied to
a little child, takes the English plural, _cherubs._ As applied to an
order of angels, it takes the Hebrew plural, _cherubim._ The singular,
_seraph,_ has an English plural, _seraphs,_ as well as the Hebrew
plural, _seraphim._ The double plurals, _cherubims_ and _seraphims,_
although found in the King James version of the Bible, are regarded as
faulty in modern writing, and should be avoided.
News
Although plural in form, the word _news_ is singular in meaning; as,
“The _news_ from Europe this morning is quite interesting.”
Acoustics
Names of sciences ending in _ics,_ are generally regarded as singular.
_“Acoustics_ is a very considerable branch of physics.” Do not say,
“The _acoustics_ of this hall _are_ good,” but “The _acoustic_
_properties_ of this hall are good.”
Dialectics, dynamics, economics, mathematics, ethics, politics,
tactics, when used as substantives, require a verb in the singular.
Analysis
Many words like _analysis, crisis, ellipsis, emphasis, hypothesis,
oasis, parenthesis, synopsis,_ form their plurals by changing the
termination _is_ into _es;_ as, _analyses, crises,_ etc. The word _iris
_takes the English plural _irises;_ Latin plural is _irides. Chrysalis_
has only the Latin plural, _chrysalides;_ but _chrysalid, _which means
the same as _chrysalis,_ takes the English plural, _chrysalids._
Terminus
_Terminus, radius, alumnus,_ and some other words ending in _us_, form
their plurals by changing the termination _us_ into _i_; as _termini,
radii,_ etc.
Many words ending in _us_ that formerly were written with only the
Latin plural, are now given an English plural also; as, _focuses, foci;
cactuses, cacti; sarcophaguses, sarcophagi; convolvuluses, convolvuli ;
funguses, fungi; nucleuses, nuclei._
_Isthmus, prospectus, rebus,_ take only the English plural.
_Apparatus_ has no plural. Avoid _apparatuses._
The plural of _genius,_ as applied to a man of unusual vigor of mind,
is _geniuses._ When applied to a good or bad spirit, the plural is
_genii._
Formula
_Formulas, larvas, stigmas,_ are regular English plurals; _formulae,
larvae,_ and _stigmata_ are the classical plurals. _Nebulae_ and
_alumnae_ are the proper plurals, the latter being the feminine noun
corresponding to the masculine plural _alumni._
Datum, Phenomenon
_Datum, erratum, candelabrum,_ and _memorandum_ form their plurals by
changing _um_ to _a_; as, _data, errata,_ etc. The last two also take
the English plurals, _memorandums, candelabrums._
The plural of _phenomenon_ and _criterion_ are _phenomena, criteria,_
although _criterions_ is sometimes employed.
The plural forms, _data, strata,_ and _phenomena,_ are so much more
frequently used than their singular forms, _datum, stratum,_ and
_phenomenon,_ that some writers have slipped into the habit of using
the plurals with a singular meaning; as, “The _aurora borealis_ is a
very strange _phenomena.”_ “Our _data_ is insufficient to establish a
theory.” “The _strata_ is broken and irregular.”
Mussulmans
While most words ending in _man_ become plural by changing this
termination to _men,_ as _gentlemen, noblemen, clergymen, statesmen,
_the following simply add _s_: _dragomans, Mussulmans, Ottomans,
talismans_ “A dozen dragomans offered their services as guides and
interpreters.” “A band of Mussulmans cut off our retreat.” “Those
fierce Ottomans proved to be very revengeful.” “He purchased five
finely upholstered ottomans for his drawing-room.”
Heroes, Cantos
Most nouns ending in _o_ add _es_ to form the plural; as, _heroes,
negroes, potatoes, stuccoes, manifestoes, mosquitoes._ Words ending in
_io_ or _yo_ add _s;_ as, _folios, nuncios, olios, ratios, embryos_.
The following words, being less frequently used, often puzzle us to
know whether to add _s_ or _es_ to form the plural: _armadillos,
cantos, cuckoos, halos, juntos, octavos, provisos, salvos, solos, twos,
tyros, virtuosos._
Alms, Odds, Riches
Many nouns that end in _s_ have a plural appearance, and we are often
perplexed to know whether to use _this_ or _these,_ and whether to
employ a singular or a plural verb when the noun is used as a
substantive.
_Amends_ is singular. _Assets, dregs, eaves, bees, pincers, riches,
scissors, sheers, tongs, vitals,_ are plural. When we
say _a_ _pair of pincers,_ or _scissors_, or _shears,_ or _tongs,_ the
verb should be singular. _Tidings,_ in Shakespeare’s time, was used
indiscriminately with a singular or plural verb, but is now generally
regarded as plural.
_Alms_ and _headquarters_ are usually made plural, but are occasionally
found with a singular verb. _Pains_ is usually singular. _Means, odds,_
and _species_ are singular or plural, according to the meaning.
“By _this means_ he accomplished his purpose.” “What other _means is
_left to us?” “Your _means are_ very slender, and your waste is great.”
Proper Names
These are usually pluralized by adding _s_; as, _the Stuarts, the
Caesars, the Beechers, the Brownings._
Titles with Proper Names
Shall we say _the Miss Browns, the Misses Brown,_ or _the Misses
Browns?_ Great diversity of opinion prevails. Gould Brown says: “The
name and not the title is varied to form the plural; as, _the Miss
Howards, the two Mr. Clarks.”_
Alexander Bain, LL. D., says: “We may say _the Misses Brown,_ or _the
Miss Browns,_ or even _the Misses Browns.”_
The chief objection to the last two forms is found when the proper name
ends with _s_, as when we say, _the Miss Brookses, the Miss Joneses,
the Miss Pottses, the_
_Miss Blisses._ The form _the Misses Brooks_ is objected to by some on
the ground that it sounds affected. On the whole the rule given by
Gould Brown is the best, and is quite generally observed.
Knight Templar
Both words are made plural, _Knights Templars,_ a very unusual way of
forming the plural.
Plural Compounds
The plural sign of a compound word is affixed to the principal part of
the word, to the part that conveys the predominant idea; as,
_fathers-in-law, man-servants, outpourings, ingatherings._ In such
words as _handfuls, cupfuls, mouthfuls,_ the plural ending is added to
the subordinate part because the ideas are so closely associated as to
blend into one.
Beaus, Beaux
Some words ending in _eau_ have only the English plurals, as _bureaus,
portmanteaus;_ others take both the English and the French plurals, as
_beaus, beaux; flambeaus, flambeaux; plateaus, plateaux;_ and still
others take only the foreign plural; as, _bateaux, chateaux, tableaux._
Pair, Couple, Brace
After numerals, the singular form of such words as these is generally
employed; as, five _pair_ of gloves, eight _couple_ of dancers, three
_brace_ of pigeons, five
_dozen_ of eggs, four _score_ years, twenty _sail_ of ships, fifty
_head_ of cattle, six _hundred_ of these men, two _thousand _of these
cattle, etc.
After such indefinite adjectives as _few, many, several,_ some of the
above words take the plural form; as, several _hundreds,_ many
_thousands._
Index, Appendix
_Indexes_ of books; _indices,_ if applied to mathematical signs in
algebra. _Appendixes_ or _appendices._
Fish, Fly
The plural of _fish_ is _fishes_ when considered individually, and
_fish_ when considered collectively. “My three pet _fishes_ feed out of
my hand.” “Six barrels of _fish_ were landed from the schooner.”
Most words ending in _y_ change this termination into _ies,_ as
_duties, cities,_ etc. The plural of _fly,_ the insect, is formed in
the usual manner, but fly, a light carriage, adds _s_; as, “Six _flys
_carried the guests to their homes.”
Animalcule
The plural of this word is _animalcules._ There is no plural
_animalculae._ The plural of the Latin _animalculum_ is _animalcula._
Bandit
This word has two plural forms, _bandits_ and _banditti._
Brother
Plural _brothers,_ when referring to members of the same family;
_brethren,_ when applied to members of the same church or society.
Die
Plural _dies,_ when the stamp with which seals are impressed is meant;
_dice,_ the cubes used in playing backgammon.
Herring
The plural is _herrings,_ but _shad, trout, bass, pike, pickerel,
grayling,_ have no plural form. “I caught three _bass_ and seven fine
_pickerel_ this morning.”
Grouse
The names of game birds, as _grouse, quail, snipe, woodcock,_ usually
take no plural form.
Pea
Considered individually the plural is _peas;_ when referring to the
crop the proper form is _pease._
Penny
“He gave me twelve bright new _pennies,”_ referring to the individual
coins. “I paid him twelve _pence,”_ meaning a _shilling._
Wharf
Plural, generally _wharves_ in America; _wharfs_ in England.