When it comes to the plural form of the word “attorney,” things can get a bit confusing. Is it “attorneys,” “attornies,” or something else entirely? In this article, we will explore the correct pluralization of “attorney” and provide some examples of usage to help clarify any confusion. Whether you’re a legal professional or simply someone looking to improve your grammar skills, understanding the proper plural form of “attorney” is an important step in effective communication.
Definition and Plural of Attorney
If you need legal representation, you will likely seek out an attorney. An attorney is a person who is legally appointed to transact business on another’s behalf, especially in a legal context. In the United States, an attorney is also known as a lawyer or an attorney-at-law.
The plural form of attorney is attorneys. To form the plural of the word, you will base it on the last letter or last two letters of the singular word form. Since the last two letters of “attorney” is “ey,” it is a vowel followed by a consonant, you simply add an “s” to make it plural. For example, “There are multiple attorneys working on the case.”
Attorneys can specialize in different areas of law, such as criminal law, family law, or corporate law. They can work in private practice or for the government. When you hire an attorney, they will represent your interests and provide legal advice and guidance.
When to Use Attorney and Plural of Attorney
As a legal term, an attorney is a person who is qualified to represent clients in legal matters. The plural form of attorney is “attorneys”, it follow the rule of adding -s at the end of the noun to form the plural.
When referring to multiple attorneys collectively, the term is pluralized by using the word “attorneys.” For example, “The law firm employs several attorneys.”
On the other hand, when referring to multiple attorneys who are also licensed to practice law, the term is pluralized by using the phrase “attorneys-at-law.” For example, “The firm is comprised of several attorneys-at-law.”
It is important to use the correct plural form of attorney to avoid confusion and ensure clear communication. Here are some situations when you may need to use the plural form of attorney:
- When referring to a law firm that employs multiple attorneys
- When discussing a case that involves multiple attorneys
- When addressing a group of attorneys at a legal conference or seminar
Overall, using the correct plural form of attorney is important in legal contexts to ensure clarity and accuracy in communication.
Examples of Attorney and Plural of Attorney in Sentences
When it comes to using the word “attorney” in sentences, it is important to understand how to use it correctly in both singular and plural forms. Here are a few examples of how to use “attorney” and its plural form “attorneys” in sentences.
- Singular: You hired an attorney to represent you in court.
- Plural: The law firm consists of several skilled attorneys specializing in different areas of law.
- Singular: The attorney presented a strong argument in court.
- Plural: During the conference, the attorneys discussed recent legal developments.
- Singular: The attorney provided valuable legal advice.
- Plural: Many attorneys work tirelessly to protect the rights of their clients.
As you can see, the plural form of “attorney” is simply “attorneys,” following the standard English rule of adding “s” to the end of a singular noun. It is important to use the correct plural form to avoid any confusion or misunderstandings in your writing or speech.
In addition, it is worth noting that the term “attorney-at-law” is also pluralized by using the phrase “attorneys-at-law” when referring to multiple attorneys collectively. For example, “The firm is comprised of several attorneys-at-law.”
Overall, understanding the correct usage of “attorney” and its plural form “attorneys” is crucial in legal writing and communication.
Plural Noun Rules for Regular Nouns
Plural nouns are used to refer to more than one person, place, thing, or idea. Regular plural nouns follow established patterns to indicate that there is more than one of a thing. Here are some rules for forming regular plural nouns:
- Add -s to most words: cat → cats, dog → dogs, book → books
- Add -es to words ending in -s, -x, -z, -ch, or -sh: bus → buses, box → boxes, quiz → quizzes, church → churches, wish → wishes
- Words ending in -y preceded by a consonant change the -y to -i and add -es: city → cities, baby → babies
- Words ending in -y preceded by a vowel add -s: boy → boys, toy → toys
- Words ending in -f or -fe change the -f or -fe to -ves: leaf → leaves, knife → knives
- Words ending in -o preceded by a consonant add -es: potato → potatoes, hero → heroes
- Words ending in -o preceded by a vowel add -s: zoo → zoos, radio → radios
It is important to note that irregular plural nouns do not follow these rules and must be memorized. Examples of irregular plural nouns include child → children, mouse → mice, and tooth → teeth.
By following these rules, you can form regular plural nouns correctly and effectively communicate that there is more than one of a thing.
Plural Noun Rules for Irregular Nouns
When it comes to forming the plural of irregular nouns, there are no specific rules that apply to all of them. However, there are some common patterns that you can use to help you remember the correct plural forms. In this section, we will explore some of these patterns and provide examples of irregular plural nouns.
List of Common Irregular Plural Nouns
Here are some of the most common irregular plural nouns:
Singular Noun | Plural Noun |
---|---|
Child | Children |
Foot | Feet |
Tooth | Teeth |
Mouse | Mice |
Goose | Geese |
Woman | Women |
Man | Men |
Person | People |
Fish | Fish (or fishes) |
Deer | Deer |
Nouns That End in ‘Us’
Nouns that end in “us” often have a plural form that ends in “i”. Here are some examples:
Singular Noun | Plural Noun |
---|---|
Cactus | Cacti |
Fungus | Fungi |
Nucleus | Nuclei |
Syllabus | Syllabi |
Nouns That End in ‘Is’
Nouns that end in “is” often have a plural form that ends in “es”. Here are some examples:
Singular Noun | Plural Noun |
---|---|
Analysis | Analyses |
Crisis | Crises |
Thesis | Theses |
Basis | Bases |
Nouns That End in ‘On’ and ‘Um’
Nouns that end in “on” or “um” often have a plural form that ends in “a”. Here are some examples:
Singular Noun | Plural Noun |
---|---|
Criterion | Criteria |
Phenomenon | Phenomena |
Bacterium | Bacteria |
Curriculum | Curricula |
Plurals That Are the Same as Singulars
Some nouns have the same form for both the singular and plural. Here are some examples:
Singular and Plural Noun |
---|
Sheep |
Deer |
Fish |
Series |
Words That Look Like Plural Nouns but Are Singular Nouns
Some words look like plural nouns but are actually singular nouns. Here are some examples:
Singular Noun | Plural Noun |
---|---|
News | – |
Mathematics | – |
Physics | – |
Politics | – |
Remembering the rules for forming irregular plural nouns can be challenging, but with practice and familiarity, you can master them.
Plural Nouns vs. Possessive Nouns
When it comes to using nouns in English, it’s important to understand the difference between plural and possessive forms. Plural nouns refer to more than one person, place, or thing, while possessive nouns show ownership or possession of something.
For example, if you have multiple attorneys working on a case, you would use the plural form and say “attorneys.” However, if you’re talking about something that belongs to an attorney, you would use the possessive form and say “attorney’s.”
To form the possessive of a singular noun, you typically add an apostrophe and an “s” to the end of the word. For example, “the attorney’s briefcase” shows that the briefcase belongs to one attorney.
When it comes to forming the possessive of a plural noun, there are a few different rules to follow. If the plural noun ends in “s,” you simply add an apostrophe at the end. For example, “the attorneys’ briefcases” shows that the briefcases belong to multiple attorneys.
If the plural noun doesn’t end in “s,” you add an apostrophe and an “s” to the end. For example, “the women’s restroom” shows that the restroom is for multiple women.
It’s important to use plural and possessive forms correctly in order to avoid confusion and clearly convey your meaning. Keep in mind that not all nouns follow the same rules for forming plurals and possessives, so it’s always a good idea to double-check if you’re unsure.
Common Mistakes with Plural Nouns
When it comes to pluralizing nouns, it’s important to follow standard English grammar rules. However, there are some common mistakes that people make when using plural form.” Here are a few things to keep in mind:
Forgetting to add -s or -es
One of the most common mistakes people make when forming plural nouns is forgetting to add the appropriate suffix. For most nouns, adding -s or -es to the end of the word is sufficient to form the plural. For example, the plural of book is books, and the plural of box is boxes. However, some nouns require a bit more attention to the spelling of the word when adding the suffix. For example, the plural of potato is potatoes, and the plural of baby is babies.
Adding an apostrophe.
Another common mistake people make with plural nouns is adding an apostrophe before the -s or -es. This is incorrect, as the apostrophe is used to indicate possession, not plurality. For example, the plural of cat is cats, not cat’s.
Irregular plurals
Some nouns have irregular plural forms that do not follow the typical -s or -es rule. For example, the plural of child is children, and the plural of mouse is mice. These irregular plurals can be tricky to remember, but it is important to learn them to avoid making mistakes.
Count vs. non-count nouns
Another common mistake people make with plural nouns is treating non-count nouns as if they were count nouns. Non-count nouns refer to things that cannot be counted, such as water or sand. These nouns do not have a plural form, and attempting to make them plural is incorrect. For example, saying “waters” or “sands” is incorrect.
Collective nouns
Collective nouns refer to a group of people or things, such as team or family. These nouns can be tricky when it comes to forming the plural, as they can be treated as singular or plural depending on the context. For example, saying “the team is” is correct if you are referring to the team as a single unit, while saying “the team are” is correct if you are referring to the individual members of the team.
By avoiding these common mistakes and using the correct plural form of “attorney,” you can ensure that you’re following standard English grammar and legal terminology.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the correct plural form of attorney?
The correct plural form of attorney is “attorneys.”
Is it ‘attorneys’ or ‘attornies’?
The correct plural form is “attorneys.” “Attornies” is a common misspelling.
How do you say multiple attorneys?
To refer to multiple attorneys, simply use the plural form “attorneys.” For example, “There are three attorneys working on the case.”
What is the plural of attorney general?
The plural of attorney general is “attorneys general.”
Should the word ‘attorneys’ have an apostrophe?
No, the word “attorneys” should not have an apostrophe when used in the plural form. The apostrophe is only used when indicating possession, such as “The attorney’s briefcase.”
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