Which is “most” correct? I heard a newscaster tonight say the former, and it kinda jangled in my ears. Although I have heard both. You know how you sometimes spell a word, then have doubts about it being right? Like that.
Is there a rule that prefers one version over the other?
Which is more common? Is it a regional thing?
Peace,
mangeorge
Standard is “attorneys general” (similar to “secretaries of state” – many states have them, so it could be plural).
I’m sure that “attorney generals” is used iby some, though, but it isn’t standard.
Attorneys General.
Both are right.
Why not “general attorney”, as in general manager? The usage of “general” is the same in both cases, isn’t it?
I believe forms such as “attorney general” or “governor general” are borrowed from French, where the adjective usually follows the noun.
The way I interpret it, “attorney” is the noun, and “general” is merely a modifier. So, I think “attorneys general” would be the correct plural.
“Attorney-General” dates from the 17th or 18th Century, a time of extreme pomposity. Like “Captain-General” and “Sergeant-Major” and “Estates-General”. Probably an English translation of a French or Latin title. “General Manager” is a more recent invention.
The standard has been changing in recent years with the “democratization” of language.
Attorneys general is the old standard. In modern writing attorney generals would be correct unless you are facing the most old fashioned, prickly audience of pedants.
Get off my lawn, you young whipper-snapper!
I once made up a list of such “generals” but I think it’s on a computer I can’t access right now. Let me try to reconstruct it by memory.
Adjutant general
Attorney general
Governor general
Inspector general
Judge advocate general
Paymaster general
Postmaster general
Quartermaster general
Secretary general
Solicitor general
I think there may be a few more.
The holders of the office themselves use “Attorneys General” - National Association of Attorneys General
And wear a wig when addressing the Court!
I believe you are correct.
The usage in Australia is “Attorneys-General”: Standing Committee of Attorneys-General
Like, say, the attorneys general themselves?
But should it be Attornies General?
I wondered about that as well, but shouted myself down.
No. in general, the rule “change the y to i and add es” only applies when the y is preceded by a consonant. If it’s preceded by a vowel, you usually only add -s.
You don’t have *daies, *quaies, *boies, *keies, etc.
I believe that attorneys general is still treated as the standard in most formal writing, including newspapers.
What gets under my skin is when someone with the job “X general” is addressed as “General.” Now that’s stupid.
The standard usage in all published writing I’ve seen has been to pluralize by adding the “-s” to “attorney,” in keeping with the idea that he is the state’s chief attorney for all things in general, as opposed to those prosecutors under him who serve only in specific districts, and hence are district attorneys.
Do not trust Exapnos Mapcase who tell you otherwise! 