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Plural Rules

Definition

• A plural word represents more than one of something.
• examples:  people, places, & things
• The opposite of a plural word is a singular word.

–s, –es Rules
• Most nouns can become plural by adding the letter –s.
• example:  The plural of cat is cats
• Words ending with –ch, –s, or –x usually need an –es to be plural.
• examples:  boxes, masses, & churches
’s Rules
• We add ’s when making letters plural.
• example:  Do you know your ABC’s?
• example:  I got all A’s.
• We add ’s when creating the plural of a word that refers to itself.
• example:  You have too many and’s in this sentence.

Acronym Rules
• Acronyms become plural by adding an s.
• examples:  URLs, BRBs, RFPs, PMs, BFs, GFs
• Acronyms ending with –s need ’s to be plural.
• example:  SOS’s, OS’s, GLASS’s
Exceptions
• Not all words follow these rules. There are many exceptions in the English language.
• example:  singular: child // plural: children
• example:  singular: deer // plural: deer
• example:  singular: goose // plural: geese
• example:  singular: nucleus // plural: nuclei

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