How Plurals Are Formed - Plurals

AMA Manual of Style - Stacy L. Christiansen, Cheryl Iverson 2020

How Plurals Are Formed
Plurals

The plurals of most nouns are formed by adding s or es (Table 9.1-1).

Table 9.1-1. Noun Plurals

Singular

Plural

benefit

benefits

cervix

cervixes

correction

corrections

disease

diseases

guideline

guidelines

method

methods

inch

inches

However, English is irregular enough that many exceptions exist (Table 9.1-2).

Table 9.1-2. Exceptions to Noun Plurals

Singular

Plural

child

children

foot

feet

metastasis

metastases

louse

lice

offspring

offspring

sty

sties

tooth

teeth

woman

women

species

species