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Understanding Singular And Plural Nouns

• Singular Vs. Plural Nouns
• Singular Nouns
• Plural Nouns
• How To Use Them
• Use Grammar Coach

In everyday life, we meet tons of interesting people, travel to a variety of unique places, and discover many fascinating things. In grammar, the type of word we use to refer to all of this great stuff is called a noun . Often, we have different amounts of stuff that we need to talk about. For example, you might have one brother or three sisters. You might own 12  cats or just a single dog. Your roommate might leave you with three slices of pizza or just one half-eaten slice —probably the one with anchovies! In all of these situations, we use two different types of nouns to refer to different amounts of stuff: singular nouns and plural nouns.

Singular noun vs. plural noun

The word singular , when used in grammar, means “noting or pertaining to a member of the category of number found in many languages that indicates that a word form has one referent or denotes one person, place, thing, or instance.” By contrast, the word plural means “noting or pertaining to a member of the category of number, found in many languages, indicating that a word has more than one referent.”

In short, this means that a singular noun refers to only one person or thing and a plural noun refers to more than one person or thing. Let’s look more closely at each of these two types of nouns so we can better understand the difference.

Singular nouns

A singular noun refers to a single object, and it is the type of noun you will almost always find if you look up nouns in our incredible Dictionary.com . Like most nouns, singular nouns can be used to refer to people, places, things, or ideas. Singular nouns always refer to one person or one thing. Singular nouns can refer to general things or more specific people, places, and things with names or titles. Singular nouns always use a singular verb and can be preceded by the articles a and an.

We’ve singled out this article on singular nouns, to give you a better understanding of them.

Examples of singular nouns

First, let’s look at many examples of singular nouns that we use to refer to a wide variety of stuff.

• people: boy, girl, child, person, actor, huntress, king, queen, Gandhi, Juliet
• places: town, city, state, country, Chicago, Switzerland, Africa
• things: apple, orange, tree, plant, animal, building, chair, desk, paper, computer

Most ideas, emotions, beliefs, philosophies, and concepts are also treated as singular nouns:

• hunger, sadness, depression, government, religion, knowledge, question, science, time

A particular type of noun to take note of is the collective noun . Collective nouns can be singular nouns even though they refer to more than person or thing. In this case, the collective noun is collectively referring to a group as if it was a single unit. Here are some examples of collective nouns:

• army, group, bunch, pile, stack, squad, team, gang, committee, jury

Plural nouns

Plural nouns are nouns that refer to more than one person, place, or thing. In general, plural nouns are made by adding -s or -es to the ends of singular nouns. However, this isn’t always the case. Sometimes a noun may change spelling or may turn into a completely different word. Plural nouns always use a plural verb in a sentence and aren’t preceded by the articles a and an.

If you’re looking for more detail on the subject, you can learn more about regular and irregular plural nouns in our in-depth analysis of them here.

Examples of plural nouns

Like singular nouns, plural nouns can also refer to people, places, things, and ideas.

regular plural nouns

• people: boys, girls, friends, babies, swimmers, chefs, Americans, Mongols
• places: cities, villages, islands, lakes, countries, neighborhoods, galaxies
• things: apples, oranges, vegetables, candies, chairs, trucks, buses
• ideas: questions, hopes, dreams, goals, expenses, religions, feelings, fears

irregular plural nouns

Irregular plural nouns don’t follow the rules. You will need to memorize which words are irregular plural nouns so you will be able to recognize that they are plural nouns at all.

• men, women, children, mice, lice, oxen, geese, sheep, buffalo, moose, fish, tuna, trout, salmon, teeth, feet, criteria, bacteria, data, foci, cacti, stimuli, minutiae, wolves, halves, calves

How do you use singular and plural nouns?

Grammatically, the main difference between singular and plural nouns is which type of verb you use with them. Singular nouns use singular verbs and plural nouns use plural verbs. You can see this difference in these sentences:

• My dog (singular noun) is (singular verb) big and hairy.
• In my opinion, cats (plural noun) are (plural verb) the cutest pets in the world.
• Emily  (singular noun) jogs (singular verb) to work every morning.
• The ancient Romans (plural noun) were (plural verb) very powerful.

Another grammatical difference between singular and plural nouns is which articles and adjectives can be used with them. Singular nouns can use the articles a and an, but plural nouns cannot. On the other hand, plural nouns can use adjectives such as many or few that do not make grammatical sense when used with singular nouns. In this case, you will need to be able to know which nouns are singular and which are plural to use adjectives correctly.

Tips for differentiating singular vs. plural nouns

The easiest way to tell if a noun is a singular noun or a plural noun is to look at how much of something it is referring to. If it is only referring to one person or thing, it is a singular noun. If it is referring to more than one person or thing, it is a plural noun . This tip will help you even if you are dealing with those tricky collective nouns: pile is a singular noun referring to one collective group of things. Piles is a plural noun referring to more than one group of stuff.

This tip will also help you deal with those uncooperative irregular plural nouns that always break the rules. For example, the word children looks like a singular noun because it doesn’t end in -s or -es. However, the word children refers to more than one child and so it is in fact a plural noun. This tip will help with especially tough words like mice or bacteria that really don’t look like they should be plural nouns.

Finally, this tip is especially helpful when handling irregular plural nouns that are identical to their singular noun counterparts. Words like fish , moose , or species can be either singular or plural, and it will come down to the context of the sentence as to how to correctly use these words. Here are some example sentences using our tips to tell singular and plural nouns apart and to ensure that our sentences are grammatically correct:

• We are going out to see a movie. (Movie refers to a single item. It is a singular noun and can use the article a .)
• Geese swim in the lake by our house. ( Geese is referring to more than one bird. It is a plural noun and uses the plural verb swim . Because it is plural, it can also stand by itself without an article.)
• She discovered a new species of ant. ( Species is only referring to one thing and so it is a singular noun and can use the article a .)
• There are many different species of spiders that live in our backyard. ( Species is referring to more than one group of spiders and so it is a plural noun and it uses the plural verb  live .)

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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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Plural Nouns: Definition, Meaning and Examples

Allison Bressmer

Pluralizing singular nouns (also known as making plural nouns) can be as easy as just adding s or es . Or adding letters to the noun, or replacing letters, or changing the entire spelling of the noun, or just leaving the word alone.

Okay, so perhaps “easy” isn’t really the way to describe the process of pluralization. Let’s go with “interesting” instead.

What Is a Plural Noun? (And How Is It Different Than a Singular Noun?

How to make regular plural nouns, how to pluralize irregular nouns, more unique plurals, a few more irregulars, pluralize for your audience, pluralization: use resources.

A noun is a word that represents a person, place, thing, or idea. This is true for both singular and plural nouns.

A singular noun is a noun representing a single (just one) person, place, thing, or idea. For example, the nouns drink , berry , and child are singular nouns.

Often, the determiners a or an are used with singular nouns :

• I’d like a drink , please.
• Would you like to try a berry ?
• Stop acting like a child !

When you make plural nouns, you indicate that there is more than one of whatever it is the noun represents.

For example, drink becomes drinks , berry becomes berries , and child becomes children . You may use the determiners few , many , and several before a plural noun:

• We’d like to order a few drinks , please.
• I like to put lots of berries on my cereal.
• The schoolyard was filled with children .

You’ve probably noticed that the method of pluralizing each of those noun examples is different. That’s because some nouns are considered regular—they tend to follow some simple rules—and others are irregular. The irregulars basically make their own rules.

Grab yourself one of those drinks I just pluralized and we’ll investigate. You’ll thank me for the advice later!

Regular nouns are generally straightforward when it comes to following the rules of pluralization. That’s why they are labeled as regular. For the most part, you pluralize them by adding s or es or by changing y to ies .

Of course, there are exceptions. You’ll notice a theme of exceptions throughout this study in pluralizing.

Pluralizing by Adding Letters

1. just add s.

This is probably the easiest rule of pluralization, and many nouns follow this rule.

2. Just add es

This rule is almost as easy, and just a little less common. It is used for nouns that end in ch , x , s (or s -sounds), sh , and z (with some special additions for the z and some s -sound-ending nouns)

Have you figured out the special additions for some s - and z -ending words? Sometimes it’s necessary to add an extra s or z to the noun before adding the pluralizing es .

There are a few other exceptions.

For example, the add es rule is pretty reliable for nouns ending in ch and sh , but not as reliable for nouns ending with x .

Some nouns that end in is or us don’t follow the just add es rule either.

With so many choices for octopus , which should you use?

3. Regular nouns ending in o

Once again, our regular nouns show their slightly rebellious side. The answer? It depends on the word. I told you you’d be happy to have that drink!

4. Regular nouns ending in y

If the nouns ends in a vowel + y , then just add s .

(And by the way, you can spell whiskey without the e as well, if it’s Scotch.)

If the noun ends in a consonant + y , you work under the replacing letters method.

Pluralizing Regular Nouns by Replacing Letters

When a noun ends in a consonant + y , the y becomes ies .

Are there exceptions? Of course there are.

Nouns such as jealousy , electricity , flexibility end with a consonant + y but do not have a plural form because they are uncountable nouns . We’ll look at them more closely further down the post.

Nouns that end in f or fe also follow the replacing letters method for pluralization. The f becomes a v . If the singular noun ends in s , you add an es to that v. If it ends in fe , you just add the s .

And yes. There are exceptions. Say the words aloud and listen for the pattern in the exceptions.

Congratulations! You’ve made it through the rules for the nouns that are called regular even though they have exceptions to the rules somewhat, well, regularly.

If you’re wondering why there are so many exceptions, it’s because the English language has a rich but complicated history and was formed through the integration of a variety of languages. Some of its words still follow rules from their original language.

Let’s move on to the irregular nouns. You might want to refill your drink.

Irregular nouns follow their own rules. They have no use for conformity, which is why they have been labeled irregular.

Pluralizing irregular nouns basically happens using one of two opposite methods: changing the singular-noun form almost entirely or not changing the singular-noun form at all.

There is no trick for determining which method to use. And knowing how to pluralize these nouns is not intuitive. In fact, it’s quite the opposite. If you’ve ever spoken to toddlers, you’ve probably heard them say things like this:

“I went to the pet store. I saw kitty cats, puppy dogs, and mouses.”

So cute, right?

We smile because they’ve said “mouses" which is adorable but incorrect. However, toddlers’ use of “mouses” is actually quite impressive as it shows they are adapting to and internalizing the rules of language. But “mouse” as a noun does not follow the rules and after a few months or years, the toddlers learn to use the far less intuitive “mice.”

Those same toddlers might tell you they’ve seen “sheeps” at the farm. Again, their instincts are right, it’s the noun “sheep” that breaks the rules.

For these irregular nouns, you really just need to learn and remember their pluralized forms and if you aren’t certain, consult your dictionary.

1. Pluralizing irregular nouns by changing the singular-noun form

Here are some examples of commonly used nouns whose plural forms are created by changing their singular forms.

2. Pluralizing nouns by changing absolutely nothing from the singular-noun form

Here are some examples of commonly used plural nouns spelled exactly the same as their singular forms.

We aren’t done yet! There are still more special pluralization situations: nouns that are only plural, uncountable nouns, and compound nouns.

Only-Plural Nouns

Some nouns do not have a singular form. They only exist in plural form. For example,

• pants : you can try on pants, but not a pant. You can, however, try on a pair of pants.
• clothes : you hang clothes in your closet. If you only have one shirt, you would say “I only have one shirt” not “I only have one clothe.”
• glasses : you wear glasses, or a pair of glasses, but you do not wear a glass. (If you’re talking about drinking glasses, then you can have just one glass.)
• shenanigans: you may get up to shenanigans, but are never just up to a shenanigan (what fun would just one shenanigan be anyway?)

Uncountable Nouns

The nouns we have pluralized so far have been countable nouns. Countable nouns are nouns we use for things we can actually count using numbers. You can use a / an or another determiner in front of them in their singular form or another determiner to answer “how many” in their plural form.

For example, you might have:

Uncountable nouns are nouns that represent things we cannot count with numbers. It doesn’t make sense to use a / an or other determiners that show “how many.” Phrases that answer “how much” are used with them instead.

Uncountable nouns have only one form. There is no plural form for them.

For example:

• jealousy : They were filled with jealousy.
• electricity : We have no electricity.
• research : He did so much research for the project.

• information : Can you provide me with more information?
• knowledge : She has a great deal of knowledge on the subject.
• evidence : There is not enough evidence to convict the defendant!
• water: I’ll just have water. (If you ask for a specific number of servings of water, you would usually say “a glass of water” or “three bottles of water.”)

Compound Nouns

Compound nouns are nouns that comprise two or more words. They can be written in three different ways: one word, two words, or as a set of hyphenated words.

Most compound nouns that are made of two nouns follow the just add s method of pluralization. And, many compound nouns that comprise a noun and a non-noun also follow this method (but of course, there are exceptions).

1. One-word compound nouns

2. two-word compound nouns, 3. hyphenated compound nouns.

Like the two-word compound nouns, hyphenated compound nouns also work as one unit.

You can see that the examples used so far all follow the just add s rule. You’re probably already thinking of other common compound nouns that don’t follow that rule. For example,

The easiest way to get these plurals right is simply to memorize them or look them up. However, there is a grammatical reason for their different methods of pluralization.

In passerby , hanger-on , and runner-up , the compound noun is made up of a noun with an er ending and an adverb. For that combination, the s is added to the noun part of the compound.

In sister-in-law and attorney-at-law , the compound noun is made up of two nouns connected by a preposition. For this combination, the first noun is pluralized.

Another way to think about this combination is to figure out which noun is the head noun. In other words, which noun is the most important (the head), and which noun just adds more information about that noun?

For sister-in-law, sister is the head noun. The in-law just tells us more about the type of sister we’re referencing. The in-law phrase works as an adjective . That same explanation applies to attorneys-at-law or attorneys general , another example of a two-word compound noun.

What happens if there is no obvious head noun?

If we say, “he’s just a good-for-nothing” do we pluralize that by saying, “They’re all good-for-nothings ?”

If we say, “I had a serious back-and-forth with my family about our political differences,” do we pluralize that by saying, “I had some serious back-and-forths with my family about our political differences?”

Yes, we do. How do I know? I looked those compound nouns up! I had to check a few online dictionaries to verify the plural versions. These are phrases that we have adapted into use over time and it can take time for dictionaries to catch up.

Still with me? Good!

Since you’re here, take a look at this list of commonly used, or at least somewhat commonly used, nouns and their unique pluralization forms.

Language is fluid, as the English language demonstrates in its own history, and changes continue to come. Along with consulting your dictionary when you’re uncertain about a word’s proper plural form, consider your audience as well.

Some methods of pluralization that used to be considered “improper” are now acceptable, at least in more casual situations.

For example, if you’re telling a friend you’d like “two tablespoonfuls of sugar in your iced tea” (that’s just too much, in my opinion), you’re fine! If you’re writing a fancy cookbook, then you might want to use the more formal “tablespoonsful.”

Some methods of pluralization are straightforward, and many nouns adhere to those methods. These are the plurals that you know just because you know them. You don’t even have to think about them!

Other plural forms are less compliant and it’s worth it to work on memorizing them, especially the ones you will use often.

When it comes to the outliers that pop up unexpectedly, there’s no need to guess. Take a minute and consult your dictionary and then run your work through a final ProWritingAid grammar check for accuracy assurance.

With ProWritingAid, you’ll use the right noun form every time—and avoid hundreds of other grammar, spelling, and style errors.

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Allison Bressmer is a professor of freshman composition and critical reading at a community college and a freelance writer. If she isn’t writing or teaching, you’ll likely find her reading a book or listening to a podcast while happily sipping a semi-sweet iced tea or happy-houring with friends. She lives in New York with her family. Connect at linkedin.com/in/allisonbressmer.

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• Writing Tips

Grammar Tips: Plural Nouns

• 7-minute read
• 10th March 2023

If someone asked you what a noun is , you’d probably say it’s a person, place, or thing. Pretty simple, right? But what about plural nouns? For example, what is the plural form for cat ? If you said cats , you’re right! What about the plural for foot ? If you said foots , you’re incorrect. The correct form is feet. Simply adding an s at the end works for some nouns – but not all.

Plural nouns can be confusing for many English learners. Most students struggle with regular versus irregular plurals as well as apostrophe usage with some plurals. Nevertheless, understanding plural nouns is important for effective communication. After all, you’ll encounter them in many contexts!

If you find plural nouns confusing, read on! This blog will provide essential grammar tips for using plural nouns correctly in written and spoken English. We’ll discuss pluralization rules as well as irregular and tricky plural noun forms. By the time you finish reading, you’ll feel confident using plural nouns effectively in any context. And understanding plural nouns can go a long way to improving your English grammar .

What Are Plural Nouns?

Plural nouns refer to more than one person, place, or thing. You can easily recognize most of them by their s or es ending:

There’s not much to pluralizing such nouns. However, things get tricky with irregular plurals, as they have their own unique forms. For example:

English language learners often struggle to distinguish regular plurals from irregular ones . Fortunately, to form irregular plurals, you just need to know which letters to change.

How to Make Nouns Plural

As we stated above, you can make most singular nouns plural by adding s or es to the end of the word, depending on the word’s ending. Likewise, collective nouns (nouns that represent groups) can be made plural by adding s or es . For example:

Regular Plural Nouns

Nouns such as bottle, toy, bike , and chair are the easiest to pluralize, as you simply add s to the end. However, some nouns require the es ending:

Irregular Plurals

The rules for forming these plurals are different from the rules for forming regular plurals, and interestingly enough, there are multiple ways to form irregular plurals. Examples of nouns that have irregular plurals include mouse , man , goose , wolf , and wife . Their pluralization looks like this:

Pluralizing these is usually a matter of knowing the rules regarding certain noun endings. If a noun ends in f or fe , you change the ending to ve before adding an s to form the plural:

The only exceptions to this rule are roof, belief, chef, chief , and café , which take the s ending. For nouns such as goose, foot, and tooth , you change the double o into a double e to make the plural. So the plural forms are geese, feet, and teeth , respectively.

Booth and book are exceptions: their plurals use the s ending. Therefore, changing the double o to a double e is incorrect. And for nouns such as man and woman , you only need to change the a to e to make the plural.

How to Pluralize the Word Mouse

The word mouse has a unique plural form. You simply change mouse to mice :

However, you wouldn’t apply this rule to other words ending in ouse , such as house . You would simply add the s ending for those.

More Rules for Plural Nouns

The final letter of a noun often dictates the correct spelling of the pluralized form. But just as we saw with irregular plurals, you must be aware of special rules.

Singular Nouns Ending in Y

If a singular noun ends in y and the letter before the y is a consonant, you change the ending to ies to make the plural:

If a singular noun ends in y and the letter before the y is a vowel, just add an s to make the plural:

Singular Nouns Ending in O

If a singular noun ends in o , add es to make the plural:

However, you would not apply this rule to nouns such as piano , halo , and photo , which take the s ending for the plural.

Which Nouns Take the es Ending?

We know you’ve probably been asking this question from the beginning. The simple answer is that the es ending applies to nouns that end in s , ss , sh , ch , x , and z . For example:

Plural Noun Exceptions

While we’ve already mentioned a few exceptions, more exist. If a singular noun ends in us , the plural ending is i . For example:

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If a singular noun ends in is , the plural ending is es :

If a singular noun ends in on , the plural ending is a :

Believe it or not, some nouns don’t change at all when you pluralize them. Such nouns include sheep, fish, deer, series , aircraft , and species . They can be singular or plural:

Plural Nouns Versus Possessive Nouns

Possessive nouns demonstrate ownership, generally with the ’ s ending. Let’s say your cousin Bill owns a boat (lucky Bill!). You would indicate it like this:

Most students confuse plural nouns with possessive nouns because of the s endings. Understanding how to use apostrophes with plurals and possessives can be tricky. Plural nouns don’t have apostrophes unless they’re also possessive. Let’s consider the following examples:

Common Mistakes When Using Plural Nouns

1. Adding s or es endings to irregular nouns (e.g., goose , man , child , foot )

2. Adding an apostrophe to a plural noun when it’s not possessive

3. Adding s endings with nouns that actually need the es ending

4. Adding pluralizing endings to nouns that don’t change at all (e.g., deer , fish , series )

5. Adding the wrong ending to nouns that end in us , is , and on

Tips for Avoiding Errors in Writing and Speaking

1. Remember that plural nouns don’t use apostrophes unless they’re also possessive.

2. You cannot pluralize all nouns simply by using s or es endings.

3. Remember which letters need to be changed to form irregular plurals (which all have unique forms).

4. Know which nouns use the s and es endings.

5. Know which nouns are singular and plural in sentences.

Tips for Identifying Singular and Plural Nouns in Sentences

Looking at how much of something a noun is referring to can tell you whether that noun is singular or plural. It’s singular if it refers to one person or thing. It’s plural if it refers to more than one person or thing.

When reading a sentence, look for any nouns with s or es endings. If so, they’re likely plural. Furthermore, by understanding how much of something the noun refers to, you can recognize the tricky irregular plural nouns we’ve covered.

Incorrect Plural Nouns Lead to Different Meanings

It’s important to use the correct forms of plural and possessive nouns, as incorrect plurals can change the meaning of a sentence. Take these examples:

We encourage you to practice using plural nouns correctly. One way to do this is by trying a worksheet on singular and plural nouns . The more practice you have, the more comfortable you’ll be. For our visual learners, we recommend this video on how to form plural nouns . Finally, we encourage you to proofread your written work for correct plural noun usage.

If you’re currently working on an essay or a paper, you might be interested in letting our proofreading experts review your writing. They can check for grammar and punctuation errors and make sure the spelling is perfect. They’ll also ensure the correct use of plural nouns! Consider submitting a 500-word document for free today.

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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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Pronunciation [ change ]

• ( UK ) ( US ) IPA ( key ) : /ˈɛˌseɪ/

Noun [ change ]

• Writing that looks at an issue or subject . Each student had to write an essay on his favorite author.

Related words and phrases [ change ]

• photo essay

Verb [ change ]

• ( transitive ) To try .
• ( intransitive ) To move forth, as into battle .

• Regular verbs
• Transitive verbs
• Intransitive verbs
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The ALF Guide

This site is designed for the best viewing experience on a tablet or larger device. It will not display properly on a phone. please try turning your tablet sideways for landscape mode to access the toolkit, otherwise you can download and view a PDF of the content via the link below.

Copyright © Monash University (2017). All rights reserved. Except as provided in the Copyright Act 1968, this work may not be reproduced in any form without the written permission of English Connect web administrator. Material created by Dr Anna Podorova, Ms Julia Ghazarian and Dr Amber McLeod.

Why is it important to understand singular and plural word forms?

Variation in formation of regular plural noun forms

In English, there are many nouns which do not follow the regular pattern of forming singular or plural. Some words such as university subjects or activities may look plural but are used as a singular nouns. For example:

The news about university rankings was in all Australian newspapers. Maths (=mathematics) is a challenging subject.

Exceptions in formation of plural noun forms: plural-looking nouns

Exceptions in formation of plural noun forms: Latin and other foreign origins

Examples: Based on this specific criterion , researchers differentiate between native and non-native speakers of English. Success criteria for such programs vary across the sector.

Exceptions in formation of singular and plural noun forms: always plural

Exceptions in formation of singular and plural noun forms: uncountable nouns

Avoiding common mistakes with plural and singular forms: subject-verb agreement

Avoiding mistakes with plural and singular forms: subject-verb agreement (continued)

Copyright © Monash University (2017).

Example from a student assignment – read through this paragraph looking for mistakes with plural and singular forms

For hundreds of years people have attempted to invent a perfect language. Recently, there have been a discussion on the nature and significances of such attempts. Inventors of such languages pursue different purposes: some want to produce an inherently logical language systems, others seek to develop neutral languages, free of ideology and culture, to be used in world communication (Lo Bianco, 2004). Out of hundreds of invented languages just a few are well-known. The most prominent of them all is, perhaps, Esperanto.

Reference: Lo Bianco, J. (2004). Resources for cultural language learning . Melbourne: CAE Press, Language Australia.

For explanation, click on the underlined text

For hundreds of years people have attempted to invent a perfect language. Recently, there have been a discussion on the nature and significances of such attempts. Inventors of such languages pursue different purposes: some want to produce an inherently logical language systems , others seek to develop neutral languages, free of ideology and culture, to be used in world communication (Lo Bianco, 2004). Out of hundreds of invented languages just a few are well-known. The most prominent of them all is, perhaps, Esperanto.

Suggested revision

For hundreds of years people have attempted to invent a perfect language. Recently, there has been a discussion on the nature and significance of such attempts. Inventors of such languages pursue different purposes: some want to produce an inherently logical language system , others seek to develop neutral languages, free of ideology and culture, to be used in world communication (Lo Bianco, 2004). Out of hundreds of invented languages just a few are well-known. The most prominent of them all is, perhaps, Esperanto.

Apply what you have learnt in this module and click on the correct option(s) below

Useful links on plural and singular forms

Module 5: Subject/Verb agreement, ASCENT, Monash University Count and uncount nouns, Purdue Online Writing Lab Making subjects and verbs agree, Purdue Online Writing Lab Nouns, singular and plural, from English Grammar Today, Cambridge University Press Uncountable nouns, English Club

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Who can help with English at Monash? LearnHQ consultations - support from a SAS learning advisor English Connect - improving conversational English and presentation skills

Resources – grammar books

Azar, B. S. & Hagen, S.A. (2009). Understanding and using English grammar (4th ed.). USA: Pearson Longman. Borjars, K. & Burridge, K. Introducing English grammar (2nd ed.). London: Hodder Education. Foley, M. & Hall, D. (2012). MyGrammarLab (Advanced) . England: Pearson. Hewings, M. (2012). Advanced grammar in use: a reference and practice book for advanced students of English (2nd ed.). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. Murphy, R. (2011). English Grammar in Use (Intermediate) (3 ed.). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

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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.

is   Plural

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Is essay plural

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

The plural singular singular singular plural plural singular 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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