essay plural or singular

• 1.1.1 Pronunciation
• 1.1.2.1 Derived terms
• 1.1.2.2 Related terms
• 1.1.2.3 Translations
• 1.2.1 Pronunciation
• 1.2.2.1 Translations
• 1.3 Anagrams
• 2.1 Etymology
• 2.2 Pronunciation
• 2.3.1 Hypernyms
• 2.3.2 Derived terms
• 2.3.3 Descendants
• 3.1 Etymology
• 3.2.1 Derived terms
• 3.3 References
• 4.1 Etymology
• 4.2.1 Derived terms
• 4.3 References

English [ edit ]

Etymology 1 [ edit ].

Since late 16th century, borrowed from Middle French essay , essai ( “ essay ” ) , meaning coined by Montaigne in the same time, from the same words in earlier meanings 'experiment; assay; attempt', from Old French essay , essai , assay , assai , from Latin exagium ( “ weight; weighing, testing on the balance ” ) , from exigere + -ium .

Pronunciation [ edit ]

• ( Received Pronunciation , General American ) IPA ( key ) : /ˈɛs.eɪ/ (1), IPA ( key ) : /ɛˈseɪ/ (2-4)
• Rhymes: -ɛseɪ
• Homophone : ese

Noun [ edit ]

essay ( plural essays )

• 2013 January, Katie L. Burke, “Ecological Dependency”, in American Scientist ‎ [1] , volume 101 , number 1, archived from the original on 9 February 2017 , page 64 : In his first book since the 2008 essay collection Natural Acts: A Sidelong View of Science and Nature , David Quammen looks at the natural world from yet another angle: the search for the next human pandemic, what epidemiologists call “the next big one.”
• ( obsolete ) A test , experiment ; an assay .
• 1861 , E. J. Guerin, Mountain Charley , page 16 : My first essay at getting employment was fruitless; but after no small number of mortifying rebuffs from various parties to whom I applied for assistance, I was at last rewarded by a comparative success.
• 1988 , James McPherson, Battle Cry of Freedom , Oxford, published 2003 , page 455 : This was Lee's first essay in the kind of offensive-defensive strategy that was to become his hallmark.
• ( philately , finance ) A proposed design for a postage stamp or a banknote .

Derived terms [ edit ]

• argumentative essay
• automated essay scoring
• eight-legged essay
• essay question
• photo-essay
• photo essay

Related terms [ edit ]

Translations [ edit ], etymology 2 [ edit ].

From Middle French essayer , essaier , from Old French essaiier , essayer , essaier , assaiier , assayer , assaier , from essay , essai , assay , assai ( “ attempt; assay; experiment ” ) as above.

• ( UK , US ) IPA ( key ) : /ɛˈseɪ/

Verb [ edit ]

essay ( third-person singular simple present essays , present participle essaying , simple past and past participle essayed )

• 1900 , Charles W. Chesnutt , chapter II, in The House Behind the Cedars : He retraced his steps to the front gate, which he essayed to open.
• 1950 April, R. A. H. Weight, “They Passed by My Window”, in Railway Magazine , page 260 : The train took the slow to branch spur at the north end at a not much slower speed, then essayed the short sharply curved climb with a terrific roar, smoke rising straight from the chimney to a height of some 60 ft., the long train twisting and curling behind.
• ( intransitive ) To move forth, as into battle.

Anagrams [ edit ]

• Sayes , Seays , Sesay , eyass

Dutch [ edit ]

Etymology [ edit ].

Borrowed from English essay ( “ essay ” ) , from Middle French essai ( “ essay; attempt, assay ” ) , from Old French essai , from Latin exagium (whence the neuter gender).

• IPA ( key ) : /ɛˈseː/ , /ˈɛ.seː/
• Hyphenation: es‧say
• Rhymes: -eː

essay   n ( plural essays , diminutive essaytje   n )

Hypernyms [ edit ]

Descendants [ edit ], norwegian bokmål [ edit ].

Borrowed from English essay , from Middle French essai .

essay   n ( definite singular essayet , indefinite plural essay or essayer , definite plural essaya or essayene )

• an essay , a written composition of moderate length exploring a particular subject
• essaysamling

References [ edit ]

• “essay” in The Bokmål Dictionary .

Norwegian Nynorsk [ edit ]

essay   n ( definite singular essayet , indefinite plural essay , definite plural essaya )

• “essay” in The Nynorsk Dictionary .

• English terms derived from Proto-Indo-European
• English terms derived from the Proto-Indo-European root *h₂eǵ-
• English terms borrowed from Middle French
• English terms derived from Middle French
• English terms derived from Old French
• English terms derived from Latin
• English 2-syllable words
• English terms with IPA pronunciation
• English terms with audio links
• Rhymes:English/ɛseɪ
• Rhymes:English/ɛseɪ/2 syllables
• English terms with homophones
• English lemmas
• English nouns
• English countable nouns
• English terms with quotations
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• en:Philately
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• English heteronyms
• en:Literature
• Dutch terms borrowed from English
• Dutch terms derived from English
• Dutch terms derived from Middle French
• Dutch terms derived from Old French
• Dutch terms derived from Latin
• Dutch terms with IPA pronunciation
• Rhymes:Dutch/eː
• Dutch lemmas
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• Dutch nouns with plural in -s
• Dutch neuter nouns
• Norwegian Bokmål terms borrowed from English
• Norwegian Bokmål terms derived from English
• Norwegian Bokmål terms derived from Middle French
• Norwegian Bokmål lemmas
• Norwegian Bokmål nouns
• Norwegian Bokmål neuter nouns
• Norwegian Nynorsk terms borrowed from English
• Norwegian Nynorsk terms derived from English
• Norwegian Nynorsk terms derived from Middle French
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Definition of 'essay'

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Eseys or Essays – Which is Correct?

• by Sarah Thompson
• March 3, 2024

Let’s have a conversation about the common mistake people make when writing the word “Essays.” Many individuals seem to get confused between “Eseys” and “Essays” and find themselves wondering which spelling is correct. Today, we will debunk this confusion and establish the correct spelling once and for all.

To address this issue, it is pertinent to emphasize that “Essays” is the correct spelling of the word. The incorrect term “Eseys” is a common misspelling resulting from a typographical error or a lack of familiarity with the correct spelling.

Now, let’s learn the reasons why “Essays” is the right spelling. Firstly, “Essays” is the plural form of the singular noun “Essay.” When we want to refer to more than one essay, we simply add an “s” to the end of the word. This is the conventional English rule for forming plurals of nouns, and it applies to “Essay” as well. For example, “I have written multiple essays on various topics.” Here, the correct plural form of “Essay” is used to convey the idea that the speaker has written more than one essay.

Moreover, we can also look at past forms of verbs to further solidify the correct spelling. For instance, the verb form of “Essay” is “Essayed.” “Essayed” is the past tense form, and by examining the conjugation of the verb, we can recognize that “Essays” is indeed the accurate plural form. You might say, “He essayed his thoughts on the subject,” to convey that someone expressed their ideas in the form of an essay.

To illustrate the incorrect spelling, “Eseys,” it is crucial to emphasize that this word does not exist in Standard English. It is a mistake that has often emerged due to a lack of knowledge or inattentiveness during writing. Therefore, it is essential to be attentive and avoid this misspelling in formal writing, as it may weaken your language skills and leave a negative impression on the reader.

In conclusion, we have effectively established that the correct spelling of the word referring to multiple essays is “Essays.” “Eseys” is an erroneous form that should be avoided. Remember, using proper grammar and spelling not only enhances your communication skills, but it also showcases your proficiency in the English language. So, the next time you find yourself unsure about whether to write “Eseys” or “Essays,” confidently choose the latter for an accurate and grammatically correct sentence!

So, keep practicing your writing skills, pay attention to proper grammar, and remember the correct spelling of “Essays.” With dedication and practice, you will become an exceptional writer and expert in the English language.

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How do I use singular they ?

Singular they has two uses: specific and generic (“Pronouns”). 

Specific Use

The MLA advises writers to always follow the personal pronouns of individuals they write about. Thus, if a person’s pronoun is they , the following sentences are correct:

Jules is writing their research paper on Jane Austen’s Persuasion . Ari read the instructions to themselves [ or themself] before beginning the test.

This use of singular they is widely accepted. In September 2019, Merriam-Webster’s even added a new definition to the entry for they in its online dictionary, stating that they can refer to a “single person whose gender identity is nonbinary” (“They,” def. 3d).

Generic Use

They is also used “as a generic third-person singular pronoun to refer to a person whose gender is unknown or irrelevant to the context,” as the seventh edition of the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association attests (120). This use of singular they , until very recently discouraged in academic writing and other formal contexts, allows writers to omit gendered pronouns from a sentence like the following:

Each taxpayer must file his or her tax return before 15 April.

Instead, writers may substitute singular they :

Each taxpayer must file their tax return before 15 April.

Because it lacks grammatical agreement, this use of singular they has been considered a less desirable option than revising to use the plural or rephrasing without pronouns. But it has emerged as a tool for making language more inclusive (see “Guidelines”), and the MLA encourages writers to accept its use to avoid making or enabling assumptions about gender.

The following principles and examples show some techniques that can help writers avoid the unnecessary and discriminatory use of gendered pronouns. For generic uses, writers should not use he or she alone or alternate he and she .

References to a Hypothetical Person

When a celebrity joins Twitter he or she gains tens of thousands of followers within minutes.

Revised, Singular They

When a celebrity joins Twitter they gain tens of thousands of followers within minutes.

Revised, No Pronoun

A celebrity who joins Twitter gains tens of thousands of followers within minutes.

Revised, Plural Subject and Pronoun

When celebrities join Twitter they gain tens of thousands of followers within minutes.

References to an Anonymous Person

The anonymous reviewer recommends in his or her report that the essay be published after minor revisions.

The anonymous reviewer recommends in their report that the essay be published after minor revisions.

The anonymous reviewer’s report recommends that the essay be published after minor revisions.

References to a Person Whose Gender Is Unknown or Irrelevant

I am impressed by the résumé of T. C. Blake, a candidate for the web developer job, and will schedule an interview with her.

I am impressed by the résumé of T. C. Blake, a candidate for the web developer job, and will schedule an interview with them.

I am impressed by the résumé of T. C. Blake and will schedule an interview with this candidate for the web developer job.

References to Generic Subjects That Are Grammatically Singular but Plural in Sense

Everyone wants to do well on his or her midterm.

Everyone wants to do well on their midterm.

Everyone wants to do well on the midterm.

Works Cited

“Guidelines for Inclusive Language.” Linguistic Society of America , 2016, www.linguisticsociety.org/resource/guidelines-inclusive-language.

“Pronouns.” The Chicago Manual of Style Online , U of Chicago, 2017, www.chicagomanualofstyle.org/qanda/data/faq/topics/Pronouns.html.

  Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association . 7th ed., American Psychological Association, 2020.

  “They, Pron .” Merriam-Webster , 2020, www.merriam-Webster.com/dictionary/they.

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Nouns: singular and plural

Nouns used only in the singular.

Some nouns are used only in the singular, even though they end in -s . These include: the names of academic subjects such as classics, economics, mathematics/maths, physics ; the physical activities gymnastics and aerobics ; the diseases measles and mumps; and the word news :

Maths was never my best subject at school.

Aerobics is great fun – you should try it!

Nouns used only in the plural

Some nouns only have a plural form. They cannot be used with numbers. They include the names of certain tools, instruments and articles of clothing which have two parts.

Tools and instruments

I’ve got new sunglasses . Do you like them?

He always wears shorts , even in the winter.

We can use pair of to refer to one example of these nouns:

I bought a new pair of binoculars last week.

That old pair of trousers will be useful for doing jobs in the garden.

We use pairs of to refer to more than one example of this type of noun:

They’re advertising two pairs of glasses for the price of one.

I bought three pairs of shorts for the summer.

Other nouns which are always plural in form

Please ensure that you take all your belongings with you as you leave the aircraft.

They live on the outskirts of Frankfurt, almost in the countryside.

My clothes are wet. I’ll have to go upstairs and change.

She spent all her savings on a trip to South America.

Collective nouns (group words)

Some nouns refer to groups of people (e.g. audience, committee, government, team ). These are sometimes called collective nouns. Some collective nouns can take a singular or plural verb, depending on whether they are considered as a single unit or as a collection of individuals:

In general, a plural verb is more common with these nouns in informal situations.

Piece words and group words

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And , Or , Nor , As Well As : Are Compound Subjects Singular or Plural?

Two or more nouns joined by and form a plural compound subject, which takes plural verbs. But when a compound subject contains or or nor , the verb should agree with the part of the subject closest to it. Phrases like as well as do not affect grammatical number in formal writing. If the subject they are attached to is singular, it stays singular.

General rules for verbs with compound subjects

Follow these general rules to correctly use the singular or plural verb with two or more subjects joined by and , or , nor , and expressions like as well as or including :

• Two or more nouns joined by and are usually plural.
• Two or more nouns joined by or or nor may take singular or plural verbs depending on the noun closest to the verb.
• With expressions like as well as , together with , and including , the subject does not change in number. If it is singular, it remains singular.
• Lulu, Rita, and Nesbit have built a spaceship in their backyard.
• Either my mother or my sister has sent me these flowers.
• Neither Maya nor Tumkin works full-time anymore.
• The new as well as the old version is now available.

Agreement with and

Two or more nouns joined by the conjunction and usually form a compound subject that is plural. This subject takes plural verbs like are and have , instead of is and has .

• Tumkin and Maya are going to Serbia.
• My house and my car are both for sale.
• Lulu’s necklace and other jewelry have been stolen.
• Cats and dogs make the best companions.
• Only you and I know this secret.

Not all words joined by and form a plural. Sometimes, two nouns are together thought of as one unit. Such a compound subject, though it contains and , is singular.

• Your name and address is all we need to proceed. A person’s name and their address are often thought of as one piece of information and can then take a singular instead of plural verb.
• Eggs and bread is all we have available.
• Black and red is my favorite color combination.
• My desire and wish is that the things I start with should be so obvious that you wonder why I spend my time stating them. — Bertrand Russell , Russell’s Logical Atomism (1918)

Also, use a singular verb when a compound subject begins with each or every . (These singular determiners make the subject singular.)

• Every human and animal has the right to live on this planet.
• Each student and teacher receives their own login.

Agreement with or / nor

When two or more nouns are joined by or or nor , the verb should agree with the noun closest to it.

• A cat or a dog is the perfect companion. not “a cat or a dog are ”
• Either his parents or his sister knows where he is. Although “his parents” is plural, we use the singular “knows” because the part of the compound subject closest to the verb is “his sister” ( his sister knows ).
• Neither black nor red is my favorite color. not “neither black nor red are ”
• Neither Anita nor I have read this book. Since the word closest to the verb is “I,” we match the verb to this subject. Use “have read” (for I have read ) instead of “has read.”

With compound subjects, agreement with the verb can sometimes sound odd. For example, because the first phrase in “Either his parents or his sister knows where he is” is plural, using “knows” instead of “know” can sound awkward. Don’t be afraid to rewrite such a sentence.

• Awkward: Either his parents or his sister knows where he is.
• Better: Either his sister or his parents know where he is.

Agreement with as well as , together with , including

When an expression like as well as , together with , or including adds to the subject of a sentence, it does not change the number of the subject. If the subject is singular, it stays singular and takes the singular verb.

• My friend , as well as her entire family, is moving to Fiji. The subject ( my friend ) is singular. Use the singular verb is rather than the plural verb are .
• Flashing red lights as well as a sign on the beach warn tourists of danger. The subject ( flashing red lights ) is plural. Use the plural verb warn rather than the singular verb warns .
• My sister , together with her partner, is traveling to Bali.
• All the tickets , including yours, have been booked.

Note that some writers and speakers feel more comfortable using as well as with plural verbs. This is because of notional agreement : agreement based on actual rather than grammatical number. When using a connective like as well as , you do refer to multiple things or people. Based on meaning rather than grammatical form, using the plural verb is not incorrect.

• My sister as well as my parents are coming to the wedding.

But grammatically, as well as is not the same as and . It does not form a compound subject: it simply adds to the existing subject. When you have a singular subject in formal usage, use commas to enclose the additional phrase. This will help your readers identify the real subject. Then use the grammatically correct singular verb.

• A large sign , as well as flashing red lights, warns tourists of danger. The subject is singular ( a large sign ). Commas separate the additional phrase from the subject. Use the singular verb warns rather than the plural verb warn .

With a plural subject, don’t use commas around the additional phrase.

• Flashing red lights as well as a large sign warn tourists of danger. Both notional agreement (the number of things being referred to) and the grammatical subject ( flashing red lights ) indicate use of the plural verb warn .

When grammatical and notional agreement collide, things can get ugly. If a sentence with as well as sounds awkward, consider rephrasing.

• Awkward: My manager, as well as my teammates, has been reassigned. The noun before the singular verb has is plural ( teammates ), which makes the sentence sound odd. Better: My manager and my teammates have been reassigned.

Verbs with compound subjects in questions

To check whether to use a singular or plural verb with a compound subject in a question , frame the answer. Then use the same verb in the question as you would in the answer.

• Who are Tumkin and Maya ? The answer would be “Tumkin and Maya are  . . .” As we know, two nouns joined by and form a plural subject. Since the answer takes “are,” so does the question.
• Is Anita or Lulu in your class? The answer would be “Anita or Lulu is  . . .,” since two singular nouns joined by or form a singular compound subject. Use the same verb “is” in the question.

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Two noun phrases joined by and form a plural subject, which takes a plural verb (“have” instead of “has”).

When the parts of a compound subject are joined by or , the verb should agree with the part closest to it (“the robot has / have ”).

When the phrases in a compound subject are joined by nor , the verb that follows should agree with the subject closest to it (“the astronauts has / have ”).

When “as well as” is attached to a singular subject, the subject stays singular (“ the astronaut [as well as the robots] is  . . .”). Although grammatically correct, such a construction can sound awkward. Don’t be afraid to rephrase.

Using a singular verb after a plural noun can sound awkward. It is better to rephrase so that agreement between subject and verb sounds more natural.

is   Plural

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• Plural Rules

Is essay plural

Essay is both plural and singular plural both plural and singular plural singular singular plural singular both plural and singular .

The singular singular plural plural singular singular plural plural plural of essay is essays .

How to say essay: How to pronounce essay

How to say essays: How to pronounce essays

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Not sure why essay is both plural both plural singular singular plural singular both ?   Contact Us !   We'll explain.

1.  What makes words plural? 2.  What makes a word singular? 3.  How to make acronyms plural.

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• Et Al. | Meaning & Use in APA, MLA & Chicago

Et Al. | Meaning & Use in APA, MLA & Chicago

Published on February 17, 2020 by Jack Caulfield . Revised on November 10, 2022.

“Et al.” is short for the Latin term “et alia,” which means “and others.” It is used in academic citations when referring to a source with multiple authors.

Different citation styles have different rules for when to use “et al.” Below, we explain the rules for APA , MLA , and Chicago style .

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Table of contents

Using et al. in apa style, using et al. in mla style, using et al. in chicago style, common mistakes, frequently asked questions about "et al.".

APA Style has slightly different rules for using “et al.” depending on whether you’re following the 6th or 7th edition.

7th edition rules

In APA 7 in-text citations , when a source has two authors, list both. When there are three or more authors, cite the first author followed by “et al.”

Don’t use “et al.” in the reference list . Instead, list up to 20 authors in full. When a source has more than 20 authors, list the first 19, then an ellipsis (…), then the final name:

6th edition rules

The rules for APA 6 in-text citations are slightly different. For sources with three to five authors, list all the authors the first time, and use “et al.” only in subsequent citations. For sources with six or more authors, use “et al.” from the first citation.

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In MLA style , always use “et al.” for sources with three or more authors. This applies to both MLA in-text citations and the Works Cited list.

Note that in a narrative citation (where the author names are not in parentheses but are part of the main sentence), MLA states that you should not use “et al.” Instead use an English equivalent like “and colleagues.”

• McDonnell et al. (37) argue that …
• McDonnell and colleagues (37) argue that …

Chicago style has two systems of citation: notes and bibliography , and author-date style . The use of “et al.” is the same in both styles.

For sources with one, two, or three authors,  list all author names in your in-text citations (whether footnotes or author-date). For sources with four or more authors, use the first name followed by “et al.”

In your Chicago style reference list or bibliography , list up to 10 authors. If a source has more than 10 authors, list the first seven followed by “et al.”:

There are a few common mistakes to watch out for when using “et al.”

Plural vs. singular

Because a phrase ending in “et al.” refers to a group of people, you need to use a plural verb when the “et al.” phrase is the subject.

• Smith et al. (2015) states that …
• Smith et al. (2015) state that …

Punctuation

“Et al.” is written as two words, with the “al” always followed by a period. The period is to indicate that the term is an abbreviation .

“Et al.” may be directly followed by other punctuation where necessary, but the period always comes first:

When “et al.” comes right at the end of a sentence, only one period is used:

When “et al.” comes after a list of two or more names, it’s preceded by a serial comma . When there’s only one name before it, no comma should be used.

• Smith, et al.
• Smith, Jones, et al.

“Et al.” vs. “etc.”

“Et al.” should not be confused with “etc.”; it is used for lists of people, whereas “etc.” is used for lists of things and concepts:

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“ Et al. ” is an abbreviation of the Latin term “et alia,” which means “and others.” It’s used in source citations to save space when there are too many authors to name them all.

Guidelines for using “et al.” differ depending on the citation style you’re following:

The abbreviation “ et al. ” (Latin for “and others”) is used to shorten citations of sources with multiple authors.

“Et al.” is used in APA in-text citations of sources with 3+ authors, e.g. (Smith et al., 2019). It is not used in APA reference entries .

Use “et al.” for 3+ authors in MLA in-text citations and Works Cited entries.

Use “et al.” for 4+ authors in a Chicago in-text citation , and for 10+ authors in a Chicago bibliography entry.

The abbreviation “ et al. ” (meaning “and others”) is used to shorten APA in-text citations with three or more authors . Here’s how it works:

Only include the first author’s last name, followed by “et al.”, a comma and the year of publication, for example (Taylor et al., 2018).

If a source has two authors, name both authors in your MLA in-text citation and Works Cited entry. If there are three or more authors, name only the first author, followed by et al.

In a Chicago style footnote , list up to three authors. If there are more than three, name only the first author, followed by “ et al. “

In the bibliography , list up to 10 authors. If there are more than 10, list the first seven followed by “et al.”

The same rules apply in Chicago author-date style .

To automatically generate accurate Chicago references, you can use Scribbr’s free Chicago reference generator .

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Essay Plural, What is the Plural of Essay?

Meaning: a short piece of writing on a particular subject.

Table of Contents

Plural of Essay

• dissertation

Essay as a Singular Noun in Example Sentences:

• She submitted her essay before the deadline.
• The student received an A+ on his essay .
• The teacher assigned a persuasive essay for the assignment.
• He spent hours researching and writing the essay .
• The essay explored the theme of identity in literature.
• The scholarship required a well-written essay on a specific topic.
• The university professor provided feedback on the essay .
• The essay was published in a renowned academic journal.

Essay as a Plural Noun in Example Sentences:

• The students submitted their essays for grading.
• The conference received numerous essays from scholars around the world.
• The collection of essays covered a wide range of topics.
• The professor assigned weekly essays to encourage critical thinking.
• The finalists presented their essays in front of the audience.
• The anthology included essays from various renowned authors.
• The competition aimed to recognize outstanding essays on social issues.
• The workshop focused on refining students’ persuasive essays .

Singular Possessive of Essay:

The singular possessive form of “Essay” is “Essay’s”.

Examples of Singular Possessive Form of Essay:

• I need to read Essay’s conclusion.
• The topic of Essay’s first paragraph is intriguing.
• Have you seen Essay’s thesis statement?
• I appreciate Essay’s insightful analysis.
• The structure of Essay’s body paragraphs is clear.
• Essay’s introduction captures the reader’s attention.
• I admire Essay’s coherent argumentation.
• Essay’s conclusion summarizes the main points.
• Can you provide me with Essay’s bibliography?
• The evidence in Essay’s supporting paragraphs is compelling.

Plural Possessive of Essay:

The plural possessive form of “Essay” is “Essays'”.

Examples of Plural Possessive Form of Essay:

• I need to read the Essays’ conclusions.
• The topics of the Essays’ first paragraphs are diverse.
• Have you seen the Essays’ thesis statements?
• I appreciate the Essays’ insightful analyses.
• The structures of the Essays’ body paragraphs are well-organized.
• The Essays’ introductions engage the readers effectively.
• I admire the Essays’ coherent argumentations.
• The Essays’ conclusions summarize the main points eloquently.
• Can you provide me with the Essays’ bibliographies?
• The evidence in the Essays’ supporting paragraphs is substantial.

Explore Related Nouns:

• Complete List of Singular Plurals

Last updated on June 9th, 2023 at 09:23 pm

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