Okay, I've got my Lucchese boots on; WATCH YOUR TOES!

RPM, in an automotive sense, references engine speed, i.e. REVOLUTIONS PER MINUTE. We all know this. Unfortunately, ignorant/careless automotive print and "media" journalists have fallen into the habit of using RPMS -with an "S"- apparently unaware RPM is plural (Revolutions). Even some automotive supply ads do this, along with magazine and newspaper automotive journalists/reporters/tech writers. Tachometers are not labeled "RPMS" (at least not yet) so please be merciful and don't libel our powerful, sensitive Barth engines by using a double plural.

Peas & Luv G

Yeah you're right. I even order a chile relleno one at a time, because I am uneasy about the correct plural usage. I'm afraid of seeming either uneducated or overly correct to the waiter. Correctness and common usage are at odds there, too.

Ah, this brings up the question: "What is the plural of 'mongoose'?"



Mongoose.

mongeese haha

And the english language gets us again with

Moose

The plural of course being--- meese, opps --mooses

nope, damn, its---- moose

Regards Bud

is "ATM machine" plural for automatic teller machine?

quote:

Originally posted by Dick Dubbs:
is "ATM machine" plural for automatic teller machine?

Automatic Teller Machine Machine? Sounds plural to me.

It's as pleonastic as being killed dead.

When doing the Data Tag Page I kept falling into the trap of using "VIN Number" so I just settled on Vin#. Still singular, but because of the # symbol I felt it acceptable. The way that phrase is used in our vernacular, I felt it unavoidable too.

Riddle me this?

1) Which is more acceptable? VIN's or VIN#'s... There is still more than 1 number in a singular VIN# so... Shouldn't it just be VIN without the 's or the #... or for that matter Number(s)?

2) Is the price of a pack of gum .99 cent? or .99 cents?

Seeing that I've not gone to a "School for Linguistic, Speech, and Communication Sciences" nor am I a "syntactician" I feel ill equipped to tackle such a weighty problem.

"The dichotomy of speech"... Oh, the things we wrap our silly little heads around.

Methinks our man from Newburgh has been lacking some sleep, either he didn't retire until after 4 this AM or arose prior to that time. I guess I'll need to keep "Webster" AND "Roget" next to the computer. is it the numbers twenty? or the number twenty?
Happy Thanksgiving y'all!

sorry I missed the 99 cents, .99 dollars

ddddddddang! or .99 of A dollar

1) Which is more acceptable? VIN's or VIN#'s... There is still more than 1 number in a singular VIN# so... Shouldn't it just be VIN without the 's or the #... or for that matter Number(s)?

We even have a third (& 4th?) choice: VINs & VIN#s

"...Oh, the things we wrap our silly little heads around."
The most profound, true, correct (and helpful) advice is made doubtful by sloppy or incorrect presentation.

Enquiring minds......or is it Inquiring minds......want to know.

I guess the inquisitive nature (not enquisitive) of a Barth owner's mind contributes to these diatribes.

Back to the questions at hand:
Me thinks -

quote:

1) Which is more acceptable? VIN's or VIN#'s... There is still more than 1 number in a singular VIN# so... Shouldn't it just be VIN without the 's or the #... or for that matter Number(s)?

A: Neither since the (') makes it possessive. Since VIN is an acronym for Vehicle Identification Number, and since "Number" can be singular or plural as far as how many digits are inclusive, VIN is acceptable for a series of numbers that indicates one grouping. VINs would be accurate for more than one VIN.

Of course the concept of Number is misguided as most VINs contain letters these days!!

quote:

2) Is the price of a pack of gum .99 cent? or .99 cents?

A: .99 of a dollar, 99% of a dollar. 99 cents.

I, too, am no linguist, but I did stay at a Holiday Inn Express sometime in my past #;-)

These discussion really require a beer in hand and campfire smoke in your eyes to full explore. Which reminds me, only 9 days to go before we have our Hillsborough Get Together! Till then...

Corey

quote:

Originally posted by bud@YXY:
And the english language gets us again with

Moose

The plural of course being--- meese, opps --mooses

nope, damn, its---- moose

Regards Bud

So, then, in the North Woods, if I hear a single large ungulate approaching, I say "The moose is coming".

But if there are two, I say, instead, "The moose are coming".

Is moose plural or is it a collective noun?

"So, then, in the North Woods, if I hear a single large ungulate approaching, I say"

RUN...........

Can I start a new rant on "apostrophe ess" being used to make a noun plural? That is bugging me a lot lately.

I see more and more of that lately. Traditionally, "apostrophe ess" is used to denote possession or as a contraction in place of "is".