# Words that are commonly (and incorrectly) pluralized or "apostrophed" **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [June 14, 2021, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-that-are-commonly-and-incorrectly-pluralized-or-apostrophed/944251 "2021-06-14T16:11:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![mordecaiB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mordecaib/32/7725_2.png) [@mordecaiB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mordecaiB)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2021, 6:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-that-are-commonly-and-incorrectly-pluralized-or-apostrophed/944251/81 "2021-06-18T06:51:22Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > I work for Winco and I’m constantly having to have people rewrite checks that they’ve made out to “Winco’s”, as if the company was founded by a guy named Steve Winco or something. First, I’m surprised that you get that many checks. Second, do you really have them do it over? Back in the olden days, I didn’t care what anyone wrote on the payee line on the check. As long as the back was stamped with my “for deposit only, mordecaiB, Acct#123456” stamp, neither I or the bank cared what was on the front. > [@GuanoLad](#): > > I’m surprised nobody has said **LEGO** yet. I had to look it up, I didn’t know that was a thing. My day wasn’t totally wasted, I learned a new fact. > [@UDS1](#): > > Is this usage not found in US English? Yes, it’s normal and always has been, as far as I know. Nobody misunderstands it at all. > [@Tabco](#): > > I stopped using apostrophes for both decades and acronyms (e.g. _CDs_ ) after being taught not to some time ago. I’m not certain, since it was 45 years ago, but I’m pretty sure I was taught that in elementary school. I’ve never done it any other way. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2021, 7:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-that-are-commonly-and-incorrectly-pluralized-or-apostrophed/944251/82 "2021-06-18T07:09:45Z")
> [@mordecaiB](#): > > First, I’m surprised that you get that many checks. Second, do you really have them do it over? Back in the olden days, I didn’t care what anyone wrote on the payee line on the check. As long as the back was stamped with my “for deposit only, mordecaiB, Acct#123456” stamp, neither I or the bank cared what was on the front. To answer your first question, it’s not a huge amount of our sales, but we do get several dozen per day as there are a number of senior apartments/communities nearby and older people are the overwhelming majority of people who write checks for groceries these days, to the point that “is under 50 and is writing a check” is a warning sign of potential fraud in and of itself. To answer the second, I don’t know if it’s an issue with the bank, but our store’s bookkeeper is very insistent that we make sure that the everything on the front of the check, including the payee, is written correctly. ---
**Author:** ![mordecaiB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mordecaib/32/7725_2.png) [@mordecaiB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mordecaiB)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2021, 7:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-that-are-commonly-and-incorrectly-pluralized-or-apostrophed/944251/83 "2021-06-18T07:30:50Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > To answer your first question, it’s not a huge amount of our sales, but we do get several dozen per day as there are a number of senior apartments/communities nearby and older people are the overwhelming majority of people who write checks for groceries these days, to the point that “is under 50 and is writing a check” is a warning sign of potential fraud in and of itself. Lucky people around you. Several dozen is amazing, even if it’s small change overall. It’s next to impossible to write a check anywhere here. I never even considered the fraud under 50 thing. > [@Smapti](#): > > To answer the second, I don’t know if it’s an issue with the bank, but our store’s bookkeeper is very insistent that we make sure that the everything on the front of the check, including the payee, is written correctly Gotcha, I remember people like that. From what I remember of checks back in the old days, you couldn’t read half the stuff people wrote, especially men. That’s why I made sure my employees wrote the dollar amount of the check on the back, along with their initials. Nothing worse than having to add several hundred checks up on your adding machine and having to guess at the amount on a bunch of them. ---
**Author:** ![bob\_2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bob_2/32/3341_2.png) [@bob\_2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bob_2)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2021, 11:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-that-are-commonly-and-incorrectly-pluralized-or-apostrophed/944251/84 "2021-06-18T11:31:14Z")
> [@Shakester](#): > > Lego. > > Americans, and it’s _always_ Americans, insist on saying “Legos”. > > It’s singular **and** plural. “Legos” is **never** correct. That really annoys me too. Does anyone know why? ---
**Author:** ![Ponch8](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ponch8/32/9883_2.png) [@Ponch8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ponch8)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2021, 11:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-that-are-commonly-and-incorrectly-pluralized-or-apostrophed/944251/85 "2021-06-18T11:50:17Z")
Being offside in soccer, football, and other sports. So often, you hear people saying that someone was “offsides.” ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2021, 11:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-that-are-commonly-and-incorrectly-pluralized-or-apostrophed/944251/86 "2021-06-18T11:51:48Z")
[You can purchase Lego in Lagos.](https://www.lostinlagos.com/listings/907) ---
**Author:** ![Railer13](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/railer13/32/9742_2.png) [@Railer13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Railer13)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2021, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-that-are-commonly-and-incorrectly-pluralized-or-apostrophed/944251/87 "2021-06-18T15:25:35Z")
> [@mordecaiB](#): > > It’s next to impossible to write a check anywhere here Yeah, I wonder how long banks are going to call it a ‘checking account.’ Maybe it should be called a ‘payment account?’ ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2021, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-that-are-commonly-and-incorrectly-pluralized-or-apostrophed/944251/88 "2021-06-18T15:40:46Z")
> [@bob\_2](#): > > > [@Shakester](#): > > > > Lego. > > > > > Americans, and it’s _always_ Americans, insist on saying “Legos”. > > > > > > It’s singular **and** plural. “Legos” is **never** correct. > > That really annoys me too. Does anyone know why? No, I don’t know why it annoys you. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2021, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-that-are-commonly-and-incorrectly-pluralized-or-apostrophed/944251/89 "2021-06-18T15:42:54Z")
The other way around there’s Brussels sprouts, which most people seem to render as Brussel sprouts in print (orally, it’s difficult to tell, as the esses elide into each other.) ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2021, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-that-are-commonly-and-incorrectly-pluralized-or-apostrophed/944251/90 "2021-06-18T15:43:19Z")
> [@Railer13](#): > > Yeah, I wonder how long banks are going to call it a ‘checking account.’ Maybe it should be called a ‘payment account?’ Right after we quit dialing phones we’ll get on that account renaming project. FYI, the technical term for them at least in the USA is “demand deposit account”. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2021, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-that-are-commonly-and-incorrectly-pluralized-or-apostrophed/944251/91 "2021-06-18T15:43:46Z")
Yes, because in American English, “Lego” is a countable noun referring to a Lego brick. ---
**Author:** ![Tabco](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tabco/32/7644_2.png) [@Tabco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tabco)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2021, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-that-are-commonly-and-incorrectly-pluralized-or-apostrophed/944251/92 "2021-06-18T17:36:59Z")
If you buy a Lego set in the US is there any way to tell from the packaging that you shouldn’t refer to the collection of pieces as Legos? I called them Legos all the way into adulthood which is about when I learned that _technically_ it was just Lego (or Lego pieces). ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2021, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-that-are-commonly-and-incorrectly-pluralized-or-apostrophed/944251/93 "2021-06-18T17:43:25Z")
Illinois it’s _driver’s license_, so does indeed seem to vary by issuing agency. ---
**Author:** ![Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/q.q.switcheroo/32/5713_2.png) [@Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.Q.Switcheroo)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2021, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-that-are-commonly-and-incorrectly-pluralized-or-apostrophed/944251/94 "2021-06-18T17:43:46Z")
There was a Soldiers Field in Boston until Harvard built a stadium on it. The name lives on via [Soldiers Field Road](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soldiers_Field_Road). ---
**Author:** ![Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/q.q.switcheroo/32/5713_2.png) [@Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.Q.Switcheroo)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2021, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-that-are-commonly-and-incorrectly-pluralized-or-apostrophed/944251/95 "2021-06-18T17:48:23Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > Arby’s, Carl’s Jr., Domino’s Pizza, Hardee’s, Long John Silver’s, McDonald’s, Nando’s, Papa Gino’s, and Wendy’s are examples where the apostrophed s is the correct spelling. Some British businesses use an apostrophe-less s: Barclays, Linklaters, Freshfields. ---
**Author:** ![Railer13](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/railer13/32/9742_2.png) [@Railer13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Railer13)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2021, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-that-are-commonly-and-incorrectly-pluralized-or-apostrophed/944251/96 "2021-06-18T17:50:21Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > FYI, the technical term for them at least in the USA is “demand deposit account”. A DDA account is either checking or savings. ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2021, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-that-are-commonly-and-incorrectly-pluralized-or-apostrophed/944251/97 "2021-06-18T17:55:16Z")
> [@BigT](#): > > And there’s disagreement on whether it is New Year or New Year’s. Nobody would say “New Year Eve”, because “New Year’s Eve” is actually correct- it’s the eve of the New Year, so the possessive apostrophe makes sense. And nobody says “Happy New Year’s”, at least without sounding like they fell off the turnip truck. When would the confusion between New Year and New Year’s come into play? Every usage I can think of is like the “New Year’s Eve” example. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2021, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-that-are-commonly-and-incorrectly-pluralized-or-apostrophed/944251/98 "2021-06-18T17:57:06Z")
> [@bump](#): > > And nobody says “Happy New Year’s”, at least without sounding like they fell off the turnip truck. Eh… the construction sounds unobjectionable to my ears – pretty sure I’ve commonly heard it that way among my peers, but perhaps we all fell off a turnip truck, or at least a rutabaga van. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2021, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-that-are-commonly-and-incorrectly-pluralized-or-apostrophed/944251/99 "2021-06-18T18:03:40Z")
> [@Ponch8](#): > > Being offside in soccer, football, and other sports. So often, you hear people saying that someone was “offsides.” I think that comes from the “anyways” crowd. ---
**Author:** ![mordecaiB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mordecaib/32/7725_2.png) [@mordecaiB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mordecaiB)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2021, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-that-are-commonly-and-incorrectly-pluralized-or-apostrophed/944251/100 "2021-06-18T19:07:46Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > Eh… the construction sounds unobjectionable to my ears – pretty sure I’ve commonly heard it that way among my peers, but perhaps we all fell off a turnip truck, or at least a rutabaga van. Agree with this, it’s fairly common for speech. Spelling, I guess I never paid attention enough to notice one way or another. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-that-are-commonly-and-incorrectly-pluralized-or-apostrophed/944251.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-that-are-commonly-and-incorrectly-pluralized-or-apostrophed/944251.md?page=6)