Quite often, we mistakingly pluralize nouns incorrectly. Here are some that I come across frequently.
First, consider the singular form:
Proof of Concept. The most common pluralization of this is
Proof of Concepts. An alternative form, and perhaps the more accurate form for the common use, is
Proofs of Concept. The phrase itself contains two nouns, proof and concept. When we speak, particularly in software development, of creating more than one proof of concept artifact, we should use the
Proofs of Concept form. This suggests more than one proof. If however, you are trying to prove the validity of more than one concept using one proof, you should use the
Proof of Concepts form. Arguably, these forms could be used to mean the same thing. I suggest otherwise.
Second, consider the singular form:
Book of Mormon. This is a popular term used in the LDS church to denote a significant book of scripture. The phrase is short for the full title of the book which is The Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ. Many people pluralize the shortened title to
Book of Mormons. That clearly is not a plural form of the book itself, but suggests that there is a book about Mormons. This is ambiguous and may mean a book about the religion nick-named Mormon, or about people who belong to the religion.
Another plural form for the shortened title is
Books of Mormon. This seems natural given the explanation about proofs of concept above. I, thinking myself clever, used this form for years. However, consider the implications. This plural form suggests that the man named Mormon authored multiple books, which he did (his own book-first person-within the Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ, the Words of Mormon, the entire abridgement known as the Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ). You can quickly see that this sounds logical, yet this form is nevertheless incorrect.
Using the title in its full form forces one to find the correct pluralization. In speaking of one book with its full title, we would say The Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ. Simply adding an "s" to any of the words in the title is not sufficient. We must add the phrase "copies of". Hence, in speaking of multiples, we use:
copies of The Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ, or
copies of The Book of Mormon.
Having said all this, I know that the reader will be scouring every future word I say or write. I invite the discoverer of any grammatical, spelling, or other error to bring it to my attention that I may improve. As I mentioned above, I used an incorrect plural form for years.
Another topic I could, and probably will, write about sometime, is the use of the phrase, "a whole 'nother". That just makes me laugh every time I hear it.
I'll end with the "in-law" series, and I'll use
brother-in-law as the singular form example. Everyone, and I mean at least 97% of people, probably use the form
brother-in-laws. Obviously, when you stop to think about it, that form is incorrect. The correct plural form should be
brothers-in-law.
