Re: Plural Form

[hkram@earth.execpc.com (Mark Hasslinger)]

Rubywand (rubywand@swbell.net) wrote:
: Wayne Stewart writes ...
: > 
: > I've always balked at calling group of IIe machines IIes. It looks
: > like another model halfway between the IIe and the IIgs. Could
: > anyone suggest a satisfactory way of writting this


:      Well, Nathan Olson's idea-- "a group of IIe machines"-- will work.
: (You could also have a gang/ herd ... of IIe Apples!)

:      It is fairly common to indicate the plural of a proper name item
: (for which the usual addition of an "s", etc. might be incorrectly taken
: as part of the name) via an apostrophe.

:      For example: "I found several new IIe's for sale" and "There are
: too many PRINT's in that line". While, on the other hand, one would
: probably say "There were many new model Buicks on the lot".

:      Of course, the price for this usage is possible confusion with
: indicating possession. Fortunately, it is almost always possible to
: easily determine plurality or possession from context. "The IIe's case
: was painted red". And, for plural possession, something like "The IIe's'
: drives were all cleaned yesterday" is okay if a tad messy (because it
: may seem to assert plural drives for each IIe; whereas, some of the
: IIe's may have had just one drive attached).

:      Probably, most English pedants would prefer something like -->
: "IIe"s <-- to indicate several IIe computers. Fine; except that it is
: cumbersome. For one thing, "IIe" without quotes-- as in "I bought an
: enhanced IIe for just $10"-- becomes improper. If the plural is in
: quotes, then the singular should be, as well (at least in the same
: article).

:      Putting the "IIe" part-- i.e. without the quotes-- in italics (or
: some font style different from the main font style used) and adding an
: "s" in the main font style is, probably, the best approach when you have
: easy access to font style-changing.

:      Still, "a flock of IIe computers" is sort of neat.


:    
: Rubywand