As pointed out in the article Plural Forms of English Nouns, we usually form the plural by adding -s or -es to the end of the noun. Except when we don't.
Here's an opportunity to test your familiarity with some particularly tricky plurals: 15 questions, two minutes, correct answers on page two.
Identify the conventional plural form of each of the following nouns. In cases where alternative spellings are possible, select the more common and generally accepted plural form. (My guides are The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, Shorter Oxford English Dictionary, Garner's Modern American Usage, and The Economist Style Guide.)
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- bacillus
(a) bacilluses (b) bacilli - cupful
(a) cupsful (b) cupfuls - dynamo
(a) dynamos (b) dynamoes - FAQ
(a) FAQs (b) FAQ's - hole in one
(a) hole in ones (b) holes in one - ignoramus
(a) ignorami (b) ignoramuses - Jones [family name]
(a) the Jones's (b) the Joneses - loaf [of bread]
(a) loafs (b) loaves - mother-in-law
(a) mothers-in-law (b) mother-in-laws - passer-by
(a) passer-bys (b) passers-by - quiz
(a) quizes (b) quizzes - roof
(a) roofs (b) rooves - synthesis
(a) synthesis (b) syntheses - tomato
(a) tomatos (b) tomatoes - wife
(a) wifes (b) wives
Answers to the quiz are on page two.
