# Attorneys general or attorney generals **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 15, 2008, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attorneys-general-or-attorney-generals/433558 "2008-01-15T02:43:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2008, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attorneys-general-or-attorney-generals/433558/1 "2008-01-15T02:43:55Z")
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 ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2008, 2:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attorneys-general-or-attorney-generals/433558/2 "2008-01-15T02:51:22Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Billdo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/billdo/32/315_2.png) [@Billdo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Billdo)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2008, 2:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attorneys-general-or-attorney-generals/433558/3 "2008-01-15T02:54:52Z")
Attorneys General. ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2008, 3:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attorneys-general-or-attorney-generals/433558/4 "2008-01-15T03:01:21Z")
Both are right. [cite.](http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/attorney%20general) ---
**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2008, 3:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attorneys-general-or-attorney-generals/433558/5 "2008-01-15T03:24:58Z")
Why not “general attorney”, as in general manager? The usage of “general” is the same in both cases, isn’t it? ---
**Author:** ![Hypnagogic\_Jerk](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hypnagogic_jerk/32/4252_2.png) [@Hypnagogic\_Jerk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hypnagogic_Jerk)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2008, 4:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attorneys-general-or-attorney-generals/433558/6 "2008-01-15T04:05:09Z")
[QUOTE=mangeorge] Why not “general attorney”, as in general manager? The usage of “general” is the same in both cases, isn’t it? [/QUOTE] I believe forms such as “attorney general” or “governor general” are borrowed from French, where the adjective usually follows the noun. ---
**Author:** ![mbh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a6a055/32.png) [@mbh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mbh)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2008, 4:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attorneys-general-or-attorney-generals/433558/7 "2008-01-15T04:17:51Z")
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. > [@](#): > > by **mangeorge** > Why not “general attorney”, as in general manager? The usage of “general” is the same in both cases, isn’t it? “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. ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2008, 4:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attorneys-general-or-attorney-generals/433558/8 "2008-01-15T04:26:35Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![mbh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a6a055/32.png) [@mbh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mbh)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2008, 4:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attorneys-general-or-attorney-generals/433558/9 "2008-01-15T04:31:25Z")
> [@](#): > > 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! ---
**Author:** ![dtilque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d6d6ee/32.png) [@dtilque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dtilque)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2008, 5:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attorneys-general-or-attorney-generals/433558/10 "2008-01-15T05:12:15Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2008, 5:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attorneys-general-or-attorney-generals/433558/11 "2008-01-15T05:36:54Z")
The holders of the office themselves use “Attorneys General” - [National Association of Attorneys General](http://www.naag.org/) ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2008, 5:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attorneys-general-or-attorney-generals/433558/12 "2008-01-15T05:37:58Z")
[QUOTE=mbh] > [@](#): > > 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! [/QUOTE] And wear a wig when addressing the Court! ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2008, 5:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attorneys-general-or-attorney-generals/433558/13 "2008-01-15T05:42:54Z")
[QUOTE=Hypnagogic Jerk] I believe forms such as “attorney general” or “governor general” are borrowed from French, where the adjective usually follows the noun. [/QUOTE] I believe you are [correct](http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=attorney). ---
**Author:** ![Cunctator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/43a26b/32.png) [@Cunctator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cunctator)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2008, 5:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attorneys-general-or-attorney-generals/433558/14 "2008-01-15T05:47:13Z")
The usage in Australia is “Attorneys-General”: [Standing Committee of Attorneys-General](http://www.ag.gov.au/www/agd/agd.nsf/Page/Committeesandcouncils_Ministerialcouncils_StandingCommitteeofAttorneysGeneral) ---
**Author:** ![amarinth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3be4f8/32.png) [@amarinth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amarinth)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2008, 6:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attorneys-general-or-attorney-generals/433558/15 "2008-01-15T06:20:08Z")
[QUOTE=Exapno Mapcase] 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. [/QUOTE] Like, say, the attorneys general themselves? ---
**Author:** ![papaw](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/b77776/32.png) [@papaw](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/papaw)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2008, 6:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attorneys-general-or-attorney-generals/433558/16 "2008-01-15T06:22:19Z")
But should it be Attorn **ies** General? ---
**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2008, 1:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attorneys-general-or-attorney-generals/433558/17 "2008-01-15T13:52:08Z")
[QUOTE=papaw] But should it be Attorn **ies** General? [/QUOTE] I wondered about that as well, but shouted myself down. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2008, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attorneys-general-or-attorney-generals/433558/18 "2008-01-15T13:56:33Z")
[QUOTE=papaw] But should it be Attorn **ies** General? [/QUOTE] 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. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2008, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attorneys-general-or-attorney-generals/433558/19 "2008-01-15T14:40:04Z")
[QUOTE=Exapno Mapcase] 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. [/QUOTE] 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. ---
**Author:** ![Polycarp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/82dd89/32.png) [@Polycarp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Polycarp)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2008, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attorneys-general-or-attorney-generals/433558/20 "2008-01-15T15:42:11Z")
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! 😉 [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attorneys-general-or-attorney-generals/433558.md?page=2)