Don’t let these plural forms trip you up
Some rules in English defy explanation. Here are some common thorny spellings for plural forms that you should always double-check.
The rules of English spelling can bewilder even the most seasoned communicator.
Writers and editors see it daily. I recently had to check the spelling of “subterfuge” because the word was dancing before my eyes. Could that really be the spelling? (It was.)
One of the particularly challenging parts of English spelling and grammar is finding correct plural forms. These can trip writers up, because they’re difficult to spell and difficult to pronounce.
Below are 29 tricky plurals:
1. antennae
2. asterisks
3. attorneys general
4. axes (plural of axis)
5. bases (plural of basis)
6. courts-martial
7. culs-de-sac
8. diagnoses
9. dos and don’ts
10. emphases
11. hippopotami
12. jacks-in-the-box
13. jack-o-lanterns
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