a plural of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a plural of" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing the plural form of a word or term. Example: "The plural of 'child' is 'children'."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

In his new book, Dr. Crystal examines the flexibility and future of this medium, noting linguistic practices ranging from the surprising survival of the Anglo-Saxon plural ending -en in Net slang (as in "vaxen" as a plural of VAX computer) to details on who brags more on academic newsgroups (men) and the probable demise of smiley faces.

The New York Times - Tech

A plural of majesty, the term Elohim though sometimes used for other deities, such as the Moabite god Chemosh, the Sidonian goddess Astarte, and also for other majestic beings such as angels, kings, judges (the Old Testament shofeṭim), and the Messiah is usually employed in the Old Testament for the one and only God of Israel, whose personal name was revealed to Moses as YHWH, or Yahweh.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Non-trinitarians usually read this as a plural of majesty, a form of speech which occurs in many languages, or a conversation between God and angels, while trinitarians often read this as a conversation between the persons of the Trinity.

SEP

In comp.os.linux.misc, y2k competes with year 2000, and boxen (as a plural of box, generalizing the jocular plural of Vaxen for the Vax brand of computers) competes with boxes, servers, computers, etc.

Plosone

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

In their instructions for how to form plurals, dictionaries make clear that you can make a plural out of any noun listed.

Los Angeles Times

"At the end of the process, the work comes out as a multitude, a series of images that are both a plural form of the base state of the painting and also independent images of their own accord".

Vice

Saucedo (manuscript) defends a plural notion of fundamentality, and argues that the plurality of all things is a fundamental plurality, partly to accommodate both gunk and junk.

SEP

In the context of an inter-ethnic encounter, a plural understanding of morality (Zigon 2008) is appropriate to acknowledge both overlapping and differing notions of right and wrong.

Bandung: Journal of the Global South

To develop this idea, Gilbert provides a complex account of how agents bind themselves into a "plural subject" of belief and action.

SEP

A southern constant is the word "y'all," which is a contraction of "you all" and used as a plural form of "you".

WikiHow

The polymer samples presented narrow molecular weight distribution, but according to differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and cross-fractionation chromatography (CFC) data, catalyst systems with given Al/Zr ratios might yield different crystallites, suggesting a plural distribution of chemical composition.

Journal of Molecular Catalysis A: Chemical

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing the correct pluralization of a word, use "a plural of" to clearly indicate you are referring to the plural form. For example, "'Children' is a plural of 'child'".

Common error

Avoid using "a plural of" when you intend to show possession. Instead of "the plural of the cat's toys", correctly state "the cat's plural toys" or "the cat's toys, which are plural".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a plural of" functions as a descriptor specifying the plural form of a noun. It indicates that a given word is the plural version of another, as seen in Ludwig's examples. This phrasing serves to clarify grammatical relationships.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Science

30%

Wiki

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

15%

Academia

5%

Formal & Business

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "a plural of" is a grammatically correct and usable construction used to identify the plural form of a word. As Ludwig AI confirms, it serves the purpose of defining or clarifying pluralizations across various contexts, from news and media to scientific discussions. While not exceedingly common, "a plural of" finds use in situations where precise grammatical definition is needed. Consider using alternatives like "plural form of" or "plural version of" for variety, and avoid confusing it with possessive constructions.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

plural form of

Focuses specifically on the form that a word takes when pluralized.

plural version of

Emphasizes that there are multiple versions of the word.

plural term for

Highlights the terminology used for denoting multiple instances.

the plural for

Directly asks for or states the plural equivalent of a singular noun.

the plural expression of

More formal phrasing that refers to the term as an 'expression'.

a multiple of

Relates to mathematical multiples rather than linguistic plurals.

a composite of

Refers to something made up of multiple parts, not directly related to plurals.

a manifold of

Suggests a diverse range, not specifically a grammatical plural.

a number of

Indicates quantity but doesn't specify grammatical form.

several of

Indicates a few but doesn't relate to pluralization.

FAQs

How do I use "a plural of" in a sentence?

Use "a plural of" to indicate that you're talking about the plural form of a word. For example, "'Mice' is "a plural of" 'mouse'".

What is the difference between "plural form of" and "a plural of"?

"Plural form of" and "a plural of" are often interchangeable. "Form" is a more general term. Consider: "'Data' is the plural form of 'datum'" versus "'Data' is "a plural of" 'datum'". Both are correct.

Can I use "plurals of" instead of "a plural of"?

No, "plurals of" is grammatically incorrect. The correct phrasing is ""a plural of"", or "the plural forms of" if you are discussing multiple words and their pluralizations.

What can I say instead of ""a plural of""?

Alternatives include "plural form of" or "plural version of". For example, instead of "'Axes' is a plural of 'ax'", you can say "'Axes' is the plural form of 'ax'".