Comments on: Grammar 101: Singular and Plural http://btr.michaelkwan.com/2008/12/08/grammar-101-singular-and-plural/ Freelance Writing, Personal Development, and Making Money with Freelance Writer Michael Kwan Wed, 08 Feb 2012 16:38:52 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Grammar 101: More Easily Is Easier « Beyond the Rhetoric http://btr.michaelkwan.com/2008/12/08/grammar-101-singular-and-plural/#comment-66627 Grammar 101: More Easily Is Easier « Beyond the Rhetoric Mon, 22 Dec 2008 20:07:30 +0000 http://btr.michaelkwan.com/?p=2781#comment-66627 [...] previous Grammar 101 posts, I discussed some odd singular-plural pairs, the difference between less and fewer, and how to use apostrophes, among other things. One common [...] [...] previous Grammar 101 posts, I discussed some odd singular-plural pairs, the difference between less and fewer, and how to use apostrophes, among other things. One common [...]

]]> By: Nick http://btr.michaelkwan.com/2008/12/08/grammar-101-singular-and-plural/#comment-66049 Nick Sat, 13 Dec 2008 02:38:23 +0000 http://btr.michaelkwan.com/?p=2781#comment-66049 There are certainly quite a few words whose plurals can be confusing...however, sometimes it's just more fun to use incorrect plurals (as long as it's not in an official type setting) most of the ones that I tend to use wrong just for fun are in the animal kingdom: gooses instead of geese deers instead of deer fishies or fishes instead of just fish Hopefully I don't make any mistakes like this unintentionally though. Oh, and nice way to put in a plug for your freelance services :) There are certainly quite a few words whose plurals can be confusing…however, sometimes it’s just more fun to use incorrect plurals (as long as it’s not in an official type setting) most of the ones that I tend to use wrong just for fun are in the animal kingdom:

gooses instead of geese
deers instead of deer
fishies or fishes instead of just fish

Hopefully I don’t make any mistakes like this unintentionally though. Oh, and nice way to put in a plug for your freelance services :)

]]> By: betshopboy http://btr.michaelkwan.com/2008/12/08/grammar-101-singular-and-plural/#comment-65840 betshopboy Thu, 11 Dec 2008 03:43:10 +0000 http://btr.michaelkwan.com/?p=2781#comment-65840 Thanks for your comprehensive insights of the two words. Thanks for your comprehensive insights of the two words.

]]> By: Michael Kwan http://btr.michaelkwan.com/2008/12/08/grammar-101-singular-and-plural/#comment-65702 Michael Kwan Wed, 10 Dec 2008 02:18:46 +0000 http://btr.michaelkwan.com/?p=2781#comment-65702 To be absolutely technical, people is not actually the plural form of person, because it is derived from a different word altogether. The official plural form of person is persons when you are referring to a countable and distinct number of individuals. "Three persons were present at the meeting." People comes from the same root as populace, referring to an uncountable or large mass of individuals. The interest here is more in the group rather than the individuals that comprise it. "The people of Tokyo are very polite." That's why it is still possible to pluralize people as peoples, as in "the various peoples of Africa," referring to the numerous cultural and ethnic groups that make up Africa's population. In everyday practice, you can largely use persons and people interchangeable. The former is largely only used in legal and official contexts, whereas the latter is more common with casual speaking. Using the term "persons" in everyday speech immediately sounds dated and old-fashioned. To be absolutely technical, people is not actually the plural form of person, because it is derived from a different word altogether.

The official plural form of person is persons when you are referring to a countable and distinct number of individuals. “Three persons were present at the meeting.”

People comes from the same root as populace, referring to an uncountable or large mass of individuals. The interest here is more in the group rather than the individuals that comprise it. “The people of Tokyo are very polite.” That’s why it is still possible to pluralize people as peoples, as in “the various peoples of Africa,” referring to the numerous cultural and ethnic groups that make up Africa’s population.

In everyday practice, you can largely use persons and people interchangeable. The former is largely only used in legal and official contexts, whereas the latter is more common with casual speaking. Using the term “persons” in everyday speech immediately sounds dated and old-fashioned.

]]> By: betshopboy http://btr.michaelkwan.com/2008/12/08/grammar-101-singular-and-plural/#comment-65692 betshopboy Wed, 10 Dec 2008 01:15:45 +0000 http://btr.michaelkwan.com/?p=2781#comment-65692 What about 'persons' vs 'people'? How do we differentiate the two and use them correctly? What about ‘persons’ vs ‘people’?

How do we differentiate the two and use them correctly?

]]> By: Potty training http://btr.michaelkwan.com/2008/12/08/grammar-101-singular-and-plural/#comment-65552 Potty training Mon, 08 Dec 2008 22:30:13 +0000 http://btr.michaelkwan.com/?p=2781#comment-65552 I'm still learning to write better English especially when writing for information content. Bookmark your page for future reference. I’m still learning to write better English especially when writing for information content. Bookmark your page for future reference.

]]>