# English language question **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 16, 2018, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/english-language-question/818046 "2018-07-16T21:43:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Quercus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/7ab992/32.png) [@Quercus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quercus)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2019, 1:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/english-language-question/818046/21 "2019-08-15T13:12:51Z")
> [@glee](#): > > In my opinion, trying to use Latin or Greek rules today is pointless and confusing. > > I agree with CookingWithGas who said “I pluralize proper names by adding s or es.” > Given that television is a mixture of Latin and Greek, what plural would classicists use? > > We\*\* can\*\* end a sentence with a preposition. Hear! Hear! Using Latin or Greek plural forms for anything other than about five well-established words is pointless and pretentious. Heck, I’m in favor of eliminating most of English’s irregular plurals (what’s wrong with ‘oxes’ or ‘gooses’? Couldn’t we use our brain cells for something more useful than remembering a bunch of random, useless, exceptions to a standard rule?) > [@glee](#): > > It’s not Latin or Greek, but we can also use a split infinitive too! Well, I’m not sure I want to really go that far… 😃 ---
**Author:** ![GreysonCarlisle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a87d85/32.png) [@GreysonCarlisle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreysonCarlisle)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2019, 1:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/english-language-question/818046/22 "2019-08-15T13:43:48Z")
> [@Quercus](#): > > Couldn’t we use our brain cells for something more useful than remembering a bunch of random, useless, exceptions to a standard rule?) Then we’d just have to use more of our brains to remember that we’re not doing _geese_ or _oxen_ anymore. Inertia’s a powerful force. ---
**Author:** ![Hari\_Seldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hari_seldon/32/5173_2.png) [@Hari\_Seldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hari_Seldon)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2019, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/english-language-question/818046/23 "2019-08-15T17:17:52Z")
> [@CookingWithGas](#): > > As noted there is no legislation on this, but I pluralize proper names by adding s or es. A Focus is not a focus. Ford Focuses. Another example: Toronto Maple Leafs (common usage, not my personal preference). And I always thought it was the Toronto Make Believes. ---
**Author:** ![yabob](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yabob/32/2821_2.png) [@yabob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yabob)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2019, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/english-language-question/818046/24 "2019-08-15T17:43:22Z")
If you’re going to say “Foci”, you owned an MMVII and an MMVIII … ---
**Author:** ![Derleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Derleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derleth)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2019, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/english-language-question/818046/25 "2019-08-15T18:15:38Z")
> [@Yllaria](#): > > Any models called Charisma? I’ve heard the plural of that is charismata. Although how one has more than one charisma puzzles me. When you have a charismatic you can make as many charismata as you want, automatically. ---
**Author:** ![Wallaby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/dc4da7/32.png) [@Wallaby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wallaby)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2019, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/english-language-question/818046/26 "2019-08-15T21:42:37Z")
> [@Quercus](#): > > (what’s wrong with ‘oxes’ or ‘gooses’? Why is the ‘accepted’ plural (the only one ever used) of sheep ----- sheep? ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/46a35a/32.png) [@Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_T-Bonham.net)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2019, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/english-language-question/818046/27 "2019-08-15T21:56:32Z")
I would say _Nos habuerunt Foci_ if I was speaking Latin. Or _We owned Focuses_ if I was speaking English. ---
**Author:** ![GreysonCarlisle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a87d85/32.png) [@GreysonCarlisle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreysonCarlisle)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2019, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/english-language-question/818046/28 "2019-08-15T21:59:28Z")
> [@Wallaby](#): > > Why is the ‘accepted’ plural (the only one ever used) of sheep ----- sheep? Because _shoop_ sounds silly. ---
**Author:** ![glee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b5a626/32.png) [@glee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glee)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2019, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/english-language-question/818046/29 "2019-08-15T23:31:03Z")
> [@GreysonCarlisle](#): > > Because _shoop_ sounds silly. Shoop sounds great here! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/english-language-question/818046.md?page=1)