PLURALS

See also individual entries, ABBREVIATIONS, COLLECTIVES, FOREIGN TERMS, LETTERS OF THE ALPHABET, NAMES, NUMBERS, and POSSESSIVES.

As a general rule follow Webster's first plural. But in lists of animals, plants, fish, etc., be consistent if there is an optional plural. With North and South American Indian tribes do not add s for tribal plurals:

            Blackfeet, Inuit, Iroquois, Maya, Sioux

For individuals, s may be added: three Comanches.  But a Blackfeet, Blackfeet nation, the Blackfeet.

1.

Proper Nouns: In general proper names form regular plurals:  the Joneses; the Smiths

Personal names ending in y, add s:  two Marys; the various Johnnys

Plural place-names are formed regularly:  the Rockies; the Alleghenies

For places with the same name, add s or es:  the two Germanys; more Parises than one

            

When two or more place-names share a common descriptive element, such as River, Park, etc., the common element is plural and capped:

2.

Numbers:

3.

Words as words:

4.

Abbreviations and Letters of the Alphabet: Plurals of abbreviations without periods are generally formed with s, no apostrophe:

If a double s combination occurs, add apostrophe plus s:  SOS's

Abbreviations with periods and letters of the alphabet used as nouns take apostrophe plus s.  Plurals of italicized letters add italic apostrophe plus roman s:

 

5.

6.

7.

Plurals of noun abbreviations usually add only s:  vol., vols.;  yr., yrs.

Plurals of Btu and rpm and of abbreviations for metric units are the same as the singular: 12,000 Btu, 2,000 rpm, 2 m, 23 mg, 11.64 L.

Ships' Names: Add italic s.

            two Yankees

Publications:

            your GEOGRAPHICS            pile of New Yorkers, two Atlantic Monthlys

Singular Noun With Plural Possessive: A singular noun can be used with a plural possessive for abstract qualities and figurative words: Four pilots crashed to their death, but four pilots ran to their cars; the men earned their living; the spectators held their breath; the depositors' curiosity was piqued; they kept their honor.