Page 311 - The Red Well-Read Reader

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9. Regular verbs usually add s or to make the 3 person singular form of a verb

or to make their plural form; however, nouns ending in s ,z, x, ch or sh normally
add es to form their plural form:

Examples: cuts begs fusses buzzes boxes torches dashes

10. Nouns ending in o preceded by a vowel usually form the plural by adding s:

Examples: studios ratios folios

11. Musical terms or items ending in o, form their plural by adding s, whether

preceded by a vowel or consonant:

Examples: trios altos sopranos pianos

12. Nouns ending in o preceded by a consonant usually add es to form their plural:

Examples: tomato and tomatoes echo and echoes

potato and potatoes motto and mottoes

Exceptions: memento or mementoes cargo or cargoes

zero or zeroes

Note: The three examples immediately above may be spelled either way; however, the spelling listed first has
greater currency.

13. Plurals of compound nouns form their plural form by adding s :

Examples: sisters-in-law co-editors editors-in-chief

passers-by teaspoonfuls or teaspoonsful

cupfuls (also cupsful)

Note: alternate spelling has much less currency.

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