Plural Rules

O

Most nouns ending in o spell their plurals by adding s. Included in these words are words of Spanish origin, Italian musical terms and proper names. Exceptions: Negro, hero veto, embargo, potato, tomato, torpedo, echo. "The Negro hero echoed the veto of the embargo on potatoes, tomatoes and torpedoes."

CH, SH, S, X, Z

Most nouns form their plural by adding an s. A noun ending in ch, sh, s, x or z spells its plural by adding es to the singular.

Irregular Plural Rule

Some nouns spell their plural with adding s or es. They are called irregular plurals. child - children, die - dice, foot - feet. goose - geese, louse - lice, man - men, mouse - mice, ox - oxen, tooth - teeth, woman - women. Some nouns spell their plural the same as the singular. They are also called irregular plurals. Deer, fish or fishes, fruit or fruits, grouse or grouses, moose, sheep, swine, grapefruit.

Letters, figures, signs, and words

The plurals of figures, letters and words are formed by adding an 's. With numbers and years (1900's) this rule is changing. Do use apostrophes when it is a matter of clarity (10's or 10s, 1900's or 1900s). Ex: 10's, 50's. t's, ABC's, @'s, #'s, etc.'s and and's.

F to V

Words ending if f and fe usually become plural by adding s. However, some words ending in f or fe become plural by changing the f or fe to v and adding es. These are calf, elf, half, knife, leaf, life, loaf, self, shelf, thief, wife, wolf. Exceptions: 4 words have two plural forms: dwarf, scarf, hoof, wharf

Y

Words ending in y preceded by a consonant become plural by changing the y to i and adding es. Words ending in y preceded by a vowel become plural by adding s.