Spelling rules

REGULAR PLURALS

The plural of most nouns is made by adding –s to the singular form: bed-beds, cup-cups, flag-flags.

Pronunciation:

[s] after voiceless consonants: caps, books, hats

[z] after voiced consonants and vowels: flowers, beds, boys

[ız] after sibilants: noses, bridges, matches

[ðz] after long vowels and diphthongs + th: bath-baths, path-paths

[Θs] after short vowels + th: month - months

*Note: house - houses [`hauzız]

Spelling rules

Nouns	Rules	Examples	Notes
1. nouns, ending in: - s, -ss, -x, -ch, -sh, -z.	Noun + -es	box - boxes bench - benches	Nouns, ending in a single –z, have plurals in – zzes quiz – quizzes, fez - fezzes
2. nouns, ending in consonant + -y	Noun y →i+-es	lady – ladies baby- babies party-parties	penny: 1.pennies (about separate penny coins) 2.pence (about prices and sums of money)
3. nouns, ending in vowel + -y, proper names, ending in consonant + -y	Noun + -s	key-keys play-plays Mr. Kennedy – the Kennedys (family) January-Januarys
4. nouns, ending in consonant + -o	Noun + -es	potato - potatoes hero – heroes echo - echoes	Some nouns can take either –s or –es: buffalo, banjo, cargo, domino, flamingo, halo, mosquito, motto, tobacco, tornado, volcano, zero, etc
5. nouns, ending in vowel + -o Also:   1) abbreviations 2) musical terms and instruments 3) proper names	Noun + -s	studio – studios cuckoo- cuckoos   1)photos, autos, kilos, logos, memos 2)concertos, pianos, solos, sopranos 3)Eskimos,Filipinos
6. most nouns, ending in -f/-fe	Noun+ -s	belief-beliefs chef-chefs chief-chiefs cliff-cliffs proof-proofs roof-roofs safe-safes	Some nouns have plurals in either –fs or –ves: dwarf handkerchief hoof scarf turf wharf
7. some nouns, ending in -f/-fe	Noun -f/fe→ - v + es	calf-calves sheaf- sheaves elf – elves shelf-shelves half- halvesself - selves knife-knivesthief-thieves leaf- leaves wife -wives life - liveswolf-wolves loaf-loaves

Compound nouns

The compound consists of:	-s/-es is added to:	Example
1. the compound has only one noun	the noun	passer-by – passers-by looker-on – lookers-on runner-up – runners-up swimming pool – swimming pools
2. the compound does not include any nouns	the end of the compound	letdown – letdowns forget-me-not – forget-me-nots merry-go-round – merry-go-rounds
3. two nouns, including most hyphenated nouns	the second noun	flower shop – flower shops travel agent – travel agents cat-burglar – cat-burglars ice-cream – ice-creams
4. two nouns, connected by a preposition	the first noun	mother-in-law – mothers-in-law man-of-war – men-of-war lady-in-waiting – ladies-in-waiting
5. the compound begins with “man” or “woman”	both nouns	man-servant – men-servants woman-teacher – women-teachers man pilot – men pilots woman-driver – women-drivers
6. two titles	both titles	Lord Justice – Lords Justices Knight Templar – Knights Templars
7. phrases	the first noun	an Inn of Court – Inns of Court

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