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Grammatically Correct: The writer's essential guide to punctuation ...

Grammatically Correct: The writer's essential guide to punctuation ...

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GRAMMATICALLY CORRECT<br />

example, galleys, donkeys. Money, however, may become monies<br />

or moneys. Note that proper names always keep the y: the<br />

Kennedys, the Applebys, the Emmys, the Tonys.<br />

WITH WORDS ENDING IN FOR FE, SOME CHANGE TO VES,<br />

OTHERS ADDS<br />

A number may go either way.<br />

chief<br />

roof<br />

knife<br />

life<br />

leaf<br />

hoof<br />

scarf<br />

dwarf<br />

chiefs<br />

roofs<br />

knives<br />

lives<br />

leaves<br />

hoofs or hooves<br />

scarfs or scarves<br />

dwarfs or dwarves<br />

Note though that the plural of still life is still lifes, not lives;<br />

and the hockey team is the Toron<strong>to</strong> Maple Leafs. While dwarf can<br />

go either way, the astronomical term is white dwarfs, not dwarves.<br />

WITH WORDS ENDING IN 0, SOME ADDS, OTHERS ADD ES<br />

A number may go either way.<br />

portfolio<br />

stereo<br />

contral<strong>to</strong><br />

pota<strong>to</strong><br />

<strong>to</strong>ma<strong>to</strong><br />

ghet<strong>to</strong><br />

banjo<br />

zero<br />

portfolios<br />

stereos<br />

contral<strong>to</strong>s<br />

pota<strong>to</strong>es<br />

<strong>to</strong>ma<strong>to</strong>es<br />

ghet<strong>to</strong>s or ghet<strong>to</strong>es<br />

banjos or banjoes<br />

zeros or zeroes<br />

<strong>The</strong> general rule is that the e is included if the o is preceded by<br />

a consonant and not included if the o is preceded by a vowel, but<br />

there are enough exceptions that it's best <strong>to</strong> check. (Be aware that<br />

dictionaries may differ.)<br />

44

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