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	<title>Writing for Business - A Whatis.com Blog &#187; pluralization</title>
	<atom:link href="http://itknowledgeexchange.techtarget.com/writing-for-business/tag/pluralization/feed/" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml" />
	<link>http://itknowledgeexchange.techtarget.com/writing-for-business</link>
	<description>Is your grammar as good as your code?</description>
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		<item>
		<title>Calfs vs. calves; wifes vs. wives; roofs vs. rooves</title>
		<link>http://itknowledgeexchange.techtarget.com/writing-for-business/calfs-vs-calves-wifes-vs-wives-roofs-vs-rooves/</link>
		<comments>http://itknowledgeexchange.techtarget.com/writing-for-business/calfs-vs-calves-wifes-vs-wives-roofs-vs-rooves/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 11 Jan 2013 13:24:39 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Ivy Wigmore</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Anachronisms]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[archaic speech and grammar]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[archaic words and phrases]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[changing spelling rules]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[ESL]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[non-standard plurals]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[pluralization]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://itknowledgeexchange.techtarget.com/writing-for-business/?p=2560</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Which is correct? Because black absorbs light (which equates to heat) and white reflects it, white is a better option for data center _____. a. roofs b. rooves Answer: Either, depending on where you are. Explanation: In the U.S., roofs is the standard plural of roof; elsewhere rooves is fairly common but becoming less so. [...]]]></description>
				<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><strong>Which is correct?</strong><br />
Because black absorbs light (which equates to heat) and white reflects it, white is a better option for data center _____.<br />
a. roofs<br />
b. rooves</p>
<p><strong>Answer: Either, depending on where you are.</strong></p>
<p><strong>Explanation:</strong></p>
<p>In the U.S., <em>roofs</em> is the standard plural of <em>roof</em>; elsewhere <em>rooves</em> is fairly common but becoming less so. The same holds true for an increasing number of words ending in &#8220;f.&#8221;</p>
<p>The standard/traditional rule for words ending in &#8220;f&#8221;  &#8211; the one I grew up with, of course &#8212; is that we substitute a &#8220;v&#8221; for the &#8220;f&#8221; and add &#8220;es&#8221; to form the plural:</p>
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td><strong> <span style="text-decoration: underline">Singular</span></strong></td>
<td><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline"> Plural</span>  </strong></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><strong>calf</strong></td>
<td><strong>calves</strong></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><strong>elf</strong></td>
<td><strong>elves</strong></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><strong>half</strong></td>
<td><strong>halves</strong></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><strong>hoof</strong></td>
<td><strong>hooves</strong></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><strong>knife</strong></td>
<td><strong>knives</strong></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><strong>leaf</strong></td>
<td><strong>leaves</strong></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><strong>life</strong></td>
<td><strong>lives</strong></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><strong>loaf</strong></td>
<td><strong>loaves</strong></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><strong>shelf</strong></td>
<td><strong>shelves</strong></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><strong>thief</strong></td>
<td><strong>thieves</strong></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><strong>wife</strong></td>
<td><strong>wives</strong></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><strong>wolf</strong></td>
<td><strong>wolves</strong></td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p>The rule on &#8220;roofs&#8221; has changed so completely in the U.S. that Merriam-Webster no longer even has an entry for &#8220;rooves.&#8221; Although the standard rule for most words ending in &#8220;f&#8221; still holds,  in casual speech and writing words like &#8220;calfs,&#8221; &#8220;elfs&#8221; and &#8220;loafs&#8221; are appearing more and more. What that means, in all likelihood, is that more will follow and the old rule will change, so that words ending in &#8220;f&#8221; just take an &#8220;s&#8221; for pluralization, like most words ending in a consonant.</p>
<p>And there&#8217;s nothing wrong with that, other than that in the transitional period, people who say &#8220;calfs,&#8221; &#8220;elfs&#8221; and &#8220;loafs&#8221; may be ridiculed by those of us clinging to the old rule. That being the case, stick to the standard for formal writing.</p>
<p>Writers on the Net provides resources on <a href="http://www.writers.com/tips_spelling.html">irregular plurals.</a></p>
<p>A tip of the editor&#8217;s visor to <a href="https://twitter.com/Guy_in_PEI">@Guy_in_PEI</a> for the inspiration for this post. (What, no one&#8217;s wearing those green eyeshades any more? Oh, I AM behind the times.)</p>
<p>Follow me on <a href="http://twitter.com/tao_of_grammar">Twitter @tao_of_grammar</a></p>
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		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Plural of ellipsis?</title>
		<link>http://itknowledgeexchange.techtarget.com/writing-for-business/plural-of-ellipsis/</link>
		<comments>http://itknowledgeexchange.techtarget.com/writing-for-business/plural-of-ellipsis/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 11 Jul 2012 12:30:43 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Ivy Wigmore</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[pluralization]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[punctuation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[word meanings]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://itknowledgeexchange.techtarget.com/writing-for-business/?p=1872</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Which is correct? _________ are often used in a taskbar or a browser tab to indicate longer titles than will fit. a. ellipses b. ellipsis c. ellipsises Answer: a. Explanation: An ellipsis is a sequence of three dots used to indicate that something continues, or sometimes to indicate that something &#8212; like a thought &#8212; [...]]]></description>
				<content:encoded><![CDATA[<table border="0" cellspacing="5" cellpadding="5">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td><img src="http://cdn.ttgtmedia.com/ITKE/uploads/blogs.dir/66/files/2008/11/typing1.jpg" alt="" /></td>
<td>Which is correct?<br />
_________ are often used in a <a href="http://searchwinit.techtarget.com/definition/taskbar">taskbar</a> or a <a href="http://searchenterprisedesktop.techtarget.com/definition/tabbed-browsing">browser tab</a> to indicate longer titles than will fit.<br />
a. ellipses<br />
b. ellipsis<br />
c. ellipsises</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p><span id="more-1872"></span></p>
<p><strong>Answer: a.</strong></p>
<p><strong>Explanation:</strong><br />
An ellipsis is a sequence of three dots used to indicate that something continues, or sometimes to indicate that something &#8212; like a thought &#8212; has trailed off. The plural of &#8220;ellipsis&#8221; is &#8220;ellipses.&#8221;</p>
<p><a href="http://twitter.com/#!/tao_of_grammar">Follow me on Twitter @tao_of_grammar</a></p>
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		<item>
		<title>Monies, moneys &#8212; or just plain old money?</title>
		<link>http://itknowledgeexchange.techtarget.com/writing-for-business/monies-moneys-or-just-plain-old-money/</link>
		<comments>http://itknowledgeexchange.techtarget.com/writing-for-business/monies-moneys-or-just-plain-old-money/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 26 Jun 2012 14:00:57 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Ivy Wigmore</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[ESL]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[grammar]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[large sums of money]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[moneys]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[monies]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[pluralization]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://itknowledgeexchange.techtarget.com/writing-for-business/?p=1798</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Which is correct? The CFO reported gleefully that corporate ______ available at the end of the fourth quarter were so substantial that she had first thought it was an accounting error. a. monies b. moneys c. money Answer: c Explanation: &#8220;Money&#8221; as a mass noun is never incorrect and &#8212; in this case &#8212; the [...]]]></description>
				<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><strong>Which is correct?</strong><br />
The <a href="http://searchcio.techtarget.com/definition/CFO">CFO</a> reported gleefully that corporate ______ available at the end of the fourth quarter were so substantial that she had first thought it was an <a href="http://whatis.techtarget.com/definition/accounting-error">accounting error</a>.<br />
a. monies<br />
b. moneys<br />
c. money</p>
<p><span id="more-1798"></span></p>
<p><strong>Answer: c</strong></p>
<p><strong>Explanation:</strong><br />
&#8220;Money&#8221; as a mass noun is never incorrect and &#8212; in this case &#8212; the other two words are. They are often used, incorrectly, to refer to especially large sums of money, as if we need double pluralization to express such a large wad of dough. Like when &#8220;super&#8221; isn&#8217;t enough to describe the magnitude of something and you&#8217;ve got to call it &#8220;super-duper.&#8221;</p>
<p>Here&#8217;s <a href="http://blog.harwardcommunications.com/2012/02/16/the-difference-between-money-and-monies-or-moneys/">HarwardCommunications blog</a>, a writing guide for non-native speakers of English, on the issue:<br />
&#8220;We would never say I found some monies under the bed / There are some monies under the bed. And it is incorrect to say I found a money under the bed.&#8221;</p>
<p>That being the case, it doesn&#8217;t make any more sense to refer to &#8220;monies available at the end of the fiscal quarter.&#8221; </p>
<p>However, in financial and business writing the other forms are standard language used to refer to discrete streams of funds, whether sources or targets. Examples include monies (that&#8217;s the common current spelling) earmarked for various corporate initiatives or monies due from various accounts. </p>
<p>Outside of that arena, stick with &#8220;money&#8221; and you won&#8217;t be wrong. </p>
<p><img src="http://http.cdnlayer.com/itke/blogs.dir/8/files/2009/07/logo_twitter.gif" alt="" /> <strong>Follow me on <a href="http://twitter.com/tao_of_grammar">Twitter @tao_of_grammar</a></strong></p>
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		<title>If you&#8217;ve got more than one of them, are they computer mice or mouses?</title>
		<link>http://itknowledgeexchange.techtarget.com/writing-for-business/is-the-plural-of-computer-mouse-mice-or-mouses/</link>
		<comments>http://itknowledgeexchange.techtarget.com/writing-for-business/is-the-plural-of-computer-mouse-mice-or-mouses/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 20 Dec 2010 23:48:44 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Ivy Wigmore</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Business writing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[CIO]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[computer mice or mouses]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[confusing words]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[grammar]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[plural of mouse]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[pluralization]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Quiz]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://itknowledgeexchange.techtarget.com/writing-for-business/?p=1450</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Which is correct? The office only provided four ______ for the six laptops because they assumed at least a couple of users would be happy with the touchpads. a. mice b. mouses c. mouse Answer: a. Explanation: Mice is the clear winner in a Google poll: Computer mice: 319,000 Computer mouses: 30,600 (But that&#8217;s not [...]]]></description>
				<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><strong>Which is correct?</strong><br />
The office only provided four ______ for the six <a href="http://searchmobilecomputing.techtarget.com/definition/laptop-computer">laptops</a> because they assumed at least a couple of users would be happy with the <a href="http://searchmobilecomputing.techtarget.com/definition/touch-pad">touchpads</a>.<br />
a. mice<br />
b. mouses<br />
c. mouse</p>
<p><span id="more-1450"></span><br />
<strong>Answer: a.</strong></p>
<p><strong>Explanation: </strong><br />
<em>Mice</em> is the clear winner in a Google poll:<br />
Computer mice: 319,000<br />
Computer mouses: 30,600<br />
(But that&#8217;s not why we say it&#8217;s correct.)</p>
<p>There&#8217;s a lot of discussion about this issue online and, although consensus seems to be for <em>mice</em>, some folks insist that <em>mouses</em> is more correct or even <em>mouse,</em> like the plural of <em>moose </em>(which is <em>moose</em>). <a href="http://www.computermousemice.com/what-is-the-plural-of-computer-mouse-mouses-mice/">Here&#8217;s a sample argument</a>:</p>
<blockquote><p>MOUSE is an acronym, and is short for Manually-Operated User-Selection Equipment so technically MOUSE is already the plural (… Equipments?) Most people, however pluralise acronyms, and initials in general, by adding a small s, so it would be MOUSEs, which seems a bit silly. Mice is also wrong, as it doesn’t stand for anything, but it does make more grammatical sense than calling them MOUSE or MOUSEs. (NB: If a MOUSE was so called because it looked like the animal, then mice would be correct, but that isn’t the case, although small body, long tail, who knows…)</p></blockquote>
<p>We&#8217;re not sure about that <a href="http://searchcio-midmarket.techtarget.com/sDefinition/0,290660,sid183_gci211518,00.html">acronym</a> story. It seems to us more likely a backronym, made up with likely words to stand for the letters in the name. Because, after all, everything should be an acronym, right? (OT: Did you know there&#8217;s a sarcasm mark? Maybe I&#8217;ll go see if I can&#8217;t round one up.)</p>
<p>The OED lists the plural as <em>mouses</em>. Much as we hate to disagree with the OED, we will do so in this case.</p>
<p>Why do we say with such certainty that the plural of (computer) <a href="http://searchmobilecomputing.techtarget.com/definition/touch-pad"><em>mouse</em></a> is <em>mice</em>? We went to the source. In <a href="http://channel9.msdn.com/Blogs/Charles/Douglas-Engelbart-Inventing-the-Mouse">this video</a>, at about 10:03, Douglas Engelbart, who invented the <a href="http://searchexchange.techtarget.com/definition/mouse">mouse</a>, refers to it in the plural as <em>mice</em>.  Oh, and by the way? He said the name was chosen for the device&#8217;s resemblance to its furry namesake &#8212; yes, small body, the long tail.Maybe the tendency to scamper&#8230;</p>
<p>So there you have the authorative answer: Douglas Englebart says the plural of mouse is mice. So it would just be silly for us to say it should be something else. Especially mouses.</p>
<p>Thanks to <a href="http://twitter.com/@OnewordTF" target="_blank">@OnewordTF</a> for the idea!</p>
<p><img src="http://http.cdnlayer.com/itke/blogs.dir/8/files/2009/07/logo_twitter.gif" alt="" /> Follow us on <a href="http://twitter.com/tao_of_grammar">Twitter @tao_of_grammar</a></p>
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		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Is majority plural or singular?</title>
		<link>http://itknowledgeexchange.techtarget.com/writing-for-business/is-majority-plural-or-singular/</link>
		<comments>http://itknowledgeexchange.techtarget.com/writing-for-business/is-majority-plural-or-singular/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 16 Feb 2010 15:17:03 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Ivy Wigmore</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Business writing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[CIO]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[grammar]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[majority is or majority are]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[plural or singular]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[pluralization]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Quiz]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://itknowledgeexchange.techtarget.com/writing-for-business/is-majority-plural-or-singular/</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Which is correct? A majority of CIOs ___ either using or considering SaaS products. a. is b. are Answer: b Explanation: By itself, majority is singular but if it&#8217;s linked to a group, as above, use the plural form. The Economist has more information about collective nouns. Follow us on Twitter @tao_of_grammar]]></description>
				<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><strong>Which is correct?</strong><br />
A majority of <a href="http://searchcio.techtarget.com/definition/CIO">CIOs</a> ___ either using or considering <a href="http://whatis.techtarget.com/definition/saas.html">SaaS</a> products.<br />
a. is<br />
b. are<br />
<span id="more-944"></span><br />
<strong>Answer: b</strong></p>
<p><strong>Explanation: </strong><br />
By itself, majority is singular but if it&#8217;s linked to a group, as above, use the plural form. </p>
<p>The Economist has more information about <a href="http://www.economist.com/research/styleGuide/index.cfm?page=805687">collective nouns.</a></p>
<p><img src="http://http.cdnlayer.com/itke/blogs.dir/8/files/2009/07/logo_twitter.gif" alt="" /> Follow us on <a href="http://twitter.com/tao_of_grammar">Twitter @tao_of_grammar</a></p>
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		<item>
		<title>The plural of &#8220;OS&#8221;</title>
		<link>http://itknowledgeexchange.techtarget.com/writing-for-business/the-plural-of-os/</link>
		<comments>http://itknowledgeexchange.techtarget.com/writing-for-business/the-plural-of-os/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 23 Dec 2009 15:07:12 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Ivy Wigmore</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Business writing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[CIO]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[grammar]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[OS]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[pluralization]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[plurals of acronyms]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Quiz]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://itknowledgeexchange.techtarget.com/writing-for-business/851/</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Which is correct? Running only Web apps is expected to make Chrome more secure than other ______. a. OS’s b. OSes c. OSs Answer: b. Explanation: Use the usual form for pluralizing a word ending in s, which is to add es. That&#8217;s the rule I chose to follow. However, there are those who argue [...]]]></description>
				<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><strong>Which is correct?</strong><br />
Running only Web apps is expected to make Chrome more secure than other ______.<br />
a. OS’s<br />
b. OSes<br />
c. OSs
 </td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p><span id="more-851"></span></p>
<p><strong>Answer: b.</strong></p>
<p>Explanation: Use the usual form for pluralizing a word ending in <em>s</em>, which is to add <em>es</em>. That&#8217;s the rule I chose to follow. However, there are those who argue for <em>OSs</em>.<a href="http://weblogs.mozillazine.org/gerv/archives/007925.html"> See a debate about this issue here.</a></p>
<p><img src="http://http.cdnlayer.com/itke/blogs.dir/8/files/2009/07/logo_twitter.gif" alt="" /> Follow us on <a href="http://twitter.com/tao_of_grammar">Twitter @tao_of_grammar</a></p>
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		<title>Criteria or criterion?</title>
		<link>http://itknowledgeexchange.techtarget.com/writing-for-business/criteria-or-criterion/</link>
		<comments>http://itknowledgeexchange.techtarget.com/writing-for-business/criteria-or-criterion/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 16 Nov 2009 15:13:55 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Ivy Wigmore</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[agenda]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[agendum]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Business writing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[CIO]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[commonly misused words]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[criteria / criterion]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[grammar]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[pluralization]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Quiz]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[spam]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://itknowledgeexchange.techtarget.com/writing-for-business/criteria-or-criterion/</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Which is correct? One important ________ for security assurance is documentation of application security measures in development. a. criterion b. criteria Answer: a Explanation: Criterion is singular; criteria is plural. However, Merriam-Webster notes that usage doesn&#8217;t always comply. And we know what happens when that situation hits the tipping point &#8212; when&#8217;s the last time [...]]]></description>
				<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><strong>Which is correct?</strong><br />
One important ________ for security assurance is documentation of application security measures in development.<br />
a. criterion<br />
b. criteria<br />
<span id="more-794"></span><br />
<strong>Answer: a</strong></p>
<p><strong>Explanation: </strong><br />
<em>Criterion</em> is singular; <em>criteria</em> is plural. However, Merriam-Webster notes that usage doesn&#8217;t always comply. And we know what happens when that situation hits the tipping point &#8212; when&#8217;s the last time you heard someone mention an agendum?</p>
<p><a href="http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/criterion">Here&#8217;s the entry:</a><br />
Pronunciation: \krī-ˈtir-ē-ən also krə-\<br />
Function: noun<br />
Inflected Form(s): plural -ria \-ē-ə\ also cri·te·ri·ons<br />
Etymology: Greek kritērion, from krinein to judge, decide<br />
Date: 1622</p>
<p>1 : a standard on which a judgment or decision may be based<br />
2 : a characterizing mark or trait<br />
synonyms: see standard<br />
usage The plural criteria has been used as a singular for over half a century  . Many of our examples, like the two foregoing, are taken from speech. But singular criteria is not uncommon in edited prose, and its use both in speech and writing seems to be increasing. Only time will tell whether it will reach the unquestioned acceptability of agenda.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.getitwriteonline.com/archive/011501CriteriaMedia.htm">Here&#8217;s a little quiz on criteria/criterion.</a></p>
<p><img src="http://http.cdnlayer.com/itke/blogs.dir/8/files/2009/07/logo_twitter.gif" alt="" /> Follow us on <a href="http://twitter.com/tao_of_grammar">Twitter @tao_of_grammar</a></p>
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		<slash:comments>2</slash:comments>
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		<item>
		<title>PDA&#8217;s or PDAs?</title>
		<link>http://itknowledgeexchange.techtarget.com/writing-for-business/pdas-or-pdas/</link>
		<comments>http://itknowledgeexchange.techtarget.com/writing-for-business/pdas-or-pdas/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 15 Oct 2009 17:06:58 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Ivy Wigmore</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[apostrophe abuse]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[apostrophes]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Business writing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[CIO]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[grammar]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[pluralization]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Quiz]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://itknowledgeexchange.techtarget.com/writing-for-business/pdas-or-pdas/</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Which is correct? Anything that promises to keep operating costs lower is likely to spur the market for smart phones and _____. a. PDA&#8217;s b. PDAs Answer: b Explanation: If you follow AP style, the only case that calls for an apostrophe to pluralize is that of individual letters, as in&#8221;Mind your P&#8217;s and Q&#8217;s,&#8221; [...]]]></description>
				<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><strong>Which is correct?</strong><br />
Anything that promises to keep operating costs lower is likely to spur the market for smart phones and _____.<br />
a. PDA&#8217;s<br />
b. PDAs</p>
<p><span id="more-757"></span><br />
<strong>Answer: b</strong></p>
<p><strong>Explanation: </strong><br />
If you follow AP style, the only case that calls for an apostrophe to pluralize is that of individual letters, as in&#8221;Mind your P&#8217;s and Q&#8217;s,&#8221; for example. </p>
<p><a href="http://linguistlessons.blogspot.com/2009/10/apostrophes.html">Ryan&#8217;s linguistic blog</a> lists this horrifying example of misuse found online: </p>
<p>&#8220;Hey guy&#8217;s. I was wondaring do you love dog&#8217;s or cat&#8217;s? I like dog&#8217;s!!! Please say dog&#8217;s. Dog&#8217;s rock!&#8221;</p>
<p>Well, at least s/he was consistent.  </p>
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		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Do plural dates take an apostrophe?</title>
		<link>http://itknowledgeexchange.techtarget.com/writing-for-business/do-plural-dates-take-an-apostrophe/</link>
		<comments>http://itknowledgeexchange.techtarget.com/writing-for-business/do-plural-dates-take-an-apostrophe/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 25 Sep 2009 12:59:36 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Ivy Wigmore</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Business writing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[CIO]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[decades]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[grammar]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[plural dates]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[pluralization]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Quiz]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://itknowledgeexchange.techtarget.com/writing-for-business/do-plural-dates-take-an-apostrophe/</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Which is correct? The IEEE was formed in the _____ when the Institute of Radio Engineers (IRE) and the American Institute of Electrical Engineers (AIEE) combined. a. 1960&#8242;s b. 1960s Answer: b Explanation: According to the AP Stylebook, the only case in which an apostrophe is used to create a plural form is that of [...]]]></description>
				<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><strong>Which is correct?</strong><br />
The IEEE was formed in the _____ when the Institute of Radio Engineers (IRE) and the American Institute of Electrical Engineers (AIEE) combined.<br />
a. 1960&#8242;s<br />
b. 1960s<br />
<span id="more-717"></span><br />
<strong>Answer: b</strong></p>
<p><strong>Explanation: </strong><br />
According to the <a href="https://www.apstylebook.com/online/index.php">AP Stylebook</a>, the only case in which an apostrophe is used to create a plural form is that of<a href="http://itknowledgeexchange.techtarget.com/writing-for-business/dot-is-and-cross-ts/"> individual letters</a>. </p>
<p><img src="http://http.cdnlayer.com/itke/blogs.dir/8/files/2009/07/logo_twitter.gif" alt="" /> Follow us on <a href="http://twitter.com/tao_of_grammar">Twitter @tao_of_grammar</a></p>
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		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
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		<title>Plural of request for proposal</title>
		<link>http://itknowledgeexchange.techtarget.com/writing-for-business/plural-of-rfp-rfps-or-rfp/</link>
		<comments>http://itknowledgeexchange.techtarget.com/writing-for-business/plural-of-rfp-rfps-or-rfp/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 08 Sep 2009 15:17:16 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Ivy Wigmore</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[acronyms and initialisms]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Business writing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[CIO]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[pluralization]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Quiz]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://itknowledgeexchange.techtarget.com/writing-for-business/?p=623</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Which is correct? When you respond to _______________ from multiple companies, you should demonstrate a broad understanding of each organization&#8217;s culture. a. request for proposals b. requests for proposal Answer: b Explanation: A request for proposal (RFP) is a single request, generally seeking multiple proposals. (The singular form is sometimes spelled request for proposals.) The [...]]]></description>
				<content:encoded><![CDATA[<table border="0" cellspacing="5" cellpadding="5">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td><img src="http://cdn.ttgtmedia.com/ITKE/uploads/blogs.dir/66/files/2008/11/typing1.jpg" alt="typing" /></td>
<td>Which is correct?<br />
When you respond to _______________ from multiple companies, you should demonstrate a broad understanding of each organization&#8217;s culture.<br />
a. request for proposals<br />
b. requests for proposal</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p><span id="more-623"></span></p>
<p>Answer: b</p>
<p>Explanation:<br />
A request for proposal (RFP) is a single request, generally seeking multiple proposals. (The singular form is sometimes spelled <em>request for proposals.</em>) The plural form is <em>requests for proposal</em> because there are multiple requests. It&#8217;s like cups of tea (rather than cup of teas) or sets of tennis (rather than set of tennises).</p>
<p><strong>So, if the plural is requests for proposal, what&#8217;s the plural of RFP?</strong><br />
Although <em>request for proposal</em> is pluralized as <em>requests for proposal</em> &#8212; which makes it seem like the plural should be <em>RFP</em> &#8212; we treat the abbreviation as a single word. So, to indicate multiple requests, make it <em>RFPs</em>.</p>
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		<slash:comments>1</slash:comments>
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