General guidelines
Follow these guidelines in forming and using plural words:
For most words, add an “s” to pluralize. This includes figures and years.
Right: thank-you-ma'ams
Right: the early 1920s
Right: several YMCAs
Right: CPAs, CODs and IOUs
Right: in twos and threes
Right: size 7s
Right: Temperatures will be in the low 20s.
Right: She knows her ABCs.
Right: I gave him five IOUs.
There are a few exceptions, including the plural forms of single letters. Form plurals of the following by adding an “s."
Right: M.A.'s and Ph.D.'s
Right: S's, A's and I's
Right: x's and y's
Right: Mind your p’s and q’s.
In general, add an “es” to pluralize words ending in “ch,” “s,” “sh,” “ss,” “x” and “z."
Right: churches
Right: lenses
Right: parishes
Right: buzzes
(Monarchs is an exception)
Words ending in “y”: If a “y” is preceded by a consonant or “qu,” change the “y” to an “i” and add “es.” Otherwise, just add an “s.”
Right: armies
Right: cities
Right: navies
Right: soliloquies
Right: donkeys
Right: monkeys
Words ending in “o”: If the “O” is preceded by a consonant, most plurals require “es.” One exception to this rule includes “pianos.”
Right: buffaloes
Right: dominoes
Right: echoes
Right: potatoes
Wrong: pianoes
Plural possessives
For words ending in "s" that are not proper nouns, use only the apostrophe if the following word begins in "s."
Right: Class' syllabus
Right: Class's work
Wrong: Class's syllabus
Pluralizing compound words
To pluralize compound words that are written solid, add an “s” at the end. For those that involve separate words or words linked by a hyphen, make the most significant word plural.
Right: cupfuls
Right: handfuls
Right: tablespoonfuls
Right: attorneys general
Right: daughters-in-law
Right: presidents-elect
Right: sergeants major
Right: assistant attorneys general
Wrong: mother-in-laws
Preferred plurals
.
|
Right
|
vs.
|
Wrong
|
| memoranda |
|
memorandums |
| symposia |
|
symposiums |
| colloquia |
|
colloquiums |
| millennia |
|
millenniums |
| data |
|
datums |
| media |
|
mediums |
| criteria |
|
criterions |
| people |
|
persons |
| vitae |
|
vitas |
Proper nouns
Add an “es” to most names ending in “es,” “s” or “z.”
Right: Charleses
Right: Joneses
Right: Williamses
Right: Gonzalezes
Add an “s” to most proper names ending in “y,” even if preceded by a consonant. Exceptions include “Alleghenies” and “Rockies.”
Right: the Duffys
Right: the Kennedys
Right: the two Kansas Citys
For others, just add an “s.”
Right: the Carters
Right: the McCoys
Wrong: the Smith’s
Here's a sampling of proper nouns on campus:
Brooks College of Health
Coggin College of Business
College of Arts and Sciences
College of Education and Human Services
College of Computing, Engineering and Construction
Fine Arts Center
University Green, the Green
Lazzara Performance Hall
