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Discussion » Questions » Language » Two-part answer. What is a plural word that you think should be singular, and a singular word that you think should be plural?
Randy D

Two-part answer. What is a plural word that you think should be singular, and a singular word that you think should be plural?

[~]

Posted - September 9, 2022
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Responses


  • 10052
    Sorry. I don't think thinking about something that annoys or perturbs me in some way is a good use of my time. 

    ;)
      September 9, 2022 4:18 PM MDT
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  • 53526

     

      Why does it necessarily have to be something that annoys you?   

    ~

      September 9, 2022 6:05 PM MDT
    2

  • 10052
    If I think it should be plural and it's singular or vice versa and it isn't, that's going to be annoying to me. 

    One thing that really annoys me are town names that are French in origin, but over the past few centuries have become pronounced with American accents. It's just one of those things that grinds my gears! 
      September 9, 2022 9:44 PM MDT
    2

  • 16838
    Nouvelle Orléans? (Orlayawn)
      September 10, 2022 4:19 AM MDT
    3

  • 10052
    I didn't even think of that one! 
      September 10, 2022 7:22 AM MDT
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  • 16838
    Either pants should be singular or bra should be plural.
      September 10, 2022 4:19 AM MDT
    3

  • 3841
    Pants is actually both singular and plural.  Same for scissors, sheep.
      September 10, 2022 9:42 AM MDT
    2

  • 844
    The noun 'pants' is actually a binary noun, a noun for something made up of two parts that form the whole and has no singular form (shorts, scissors, tongs, pajamas, tweezers, etc.). A binary noun is a shortened form for 'a pair of pants' or 'pairs of pants'.

    The noun sheep is used as a singular and a plural noun.

    And, I hate to mention it but the noun 'bra' has both a singular and a plural form. You would think it would be a binary noun, but it's not. I guess that's because it is derived from (shhh) French. This post was edited by NYAD at January 20, 2023 4:53 PM MST
      September 10, 2022 8:41 PM MDT
    4

  • 13277
    The noun pants does have a singular form. Those in the clothing industry refer to the garment as a pant.
      September 10, 2022 9:42 PM MDT
    1

  • 3841
    Thanks for the explanation.  Just to be clear, I didn't post "bra."
      September 10, 2022 11:05 PM MDT
    2

  • 13277
    I have none. But on a slight tangent, it bothers me that, with the plural of mouse being mice, that the plurals of house and spouse aren’t hice and spice.
      September 10, 2022 9:46 PM MDT
    4

  • 4624
    I dislike the use of persons to refer to two or more people - but I accept it as an example of how our language changes.
      September 11, 2022 1:38 AM MDT
    1