make it plural

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "make it plural" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when instructing someone to change a singular noun or phrase to its plural form. Example: "If you want to refer to more than one cat, just make it plural."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

7 human-written examples

Make it plural throughout.

The New York Times

Make it plural throughout, or rephrase the second sentence, e.g. "The total of 37 matches …" As if the package from the publishing house was not enough, there was more available on the Internet.

The New York Times

With Father's Day (but make it plural when there are two dads) coming up, this is a great time to let the world know just how fortunate all three of you are and, yes, what an "amazing gift" your son is.

The New York Times

If the family's last name ends in "s," make it plural before adding an apostrophe.

WikiHow

In most instances, add an 's' to the end of the singular noun to make it plural.

WikiHow

Remember the old adage: When a word ends in "y", drop the "y" and add "ies" to make it plural.

WikiHow

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

New York-Presbyterian, for instance, changed a line of its logo recently that referred to the merged group as a "hospital," making it plural again.

The New York Times

The greatest drawback was that I couldn't bluff myself by laying a "phony" (a plausible but nonexistent word like "pukha" or "burlock"), or by deliberately misspelling a common noun ("fettel") to lure an opponent into making it plural, then challenging it off the board — a legitimate if churlish ploy.

The New Yorker

"Irhal," or leave, has skipped from Egypt to Yemen and Bahrain, where in the streets of Sitra, strewn with rocks from nightly clashes with the police, protesters have made it plural — not only must the king go, but his family as well.

The New York Times

Method 2: Try to avoid adding 's' (making it plural) or 'ing'ing

WikiHow

And the plural "their" has no proper antecedent; make it "its" to refer to "factory".

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When editing text, use "make it plural" to clearly instruct someone to change a singular noun to its plural form. This is particularly useful in collaborative writing or editing processes where clarity is essential.

Common error

Avoid simply adding an 's' to every noun when pluralizing. Irregular nouns like 'child' (children) or 'criterion' (criteria) require specific plural forms. Always verify the correct pluralization to ensure grammatical accuracy.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "make it plural" primarily functions as an imperative instruction, directing someone to transform a singular noun into its plural form. As Ludwig AI explains, it's a direct command used in editing or grammatical correction.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

46%

Wiki

32%

Science

12%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "make it plural" is a grammatically correct phrase used to instruct the transformation of a singular noun into its plural form. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in written English. It's commonly found in editing and instructional contexts across various fields such as news media, wikis, and scientific publications. Alternatives include "pluralize it", "convert it to plural form", or "change it to plural". While its frequency is uncommon, understanding its purpose and proper usage is key to grammatical accuracy.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

pluralize it

A more concise way to instruct the change to plural form.

convert it to plural form

Specifies the type of conversion more explicitly.

change it to plural

Simple instruction to alter the noun to its plural version.

express it in plural

Focuses on the way the word is expressed grammatically.

use the plural form

Instructs the usage of a plural version of a word or term.

render it as a plural

Formal instruction to display a word in its plural version.

form the plural

Highlights the operation of forming a plural.

make it multiple

Less technical phrasing, referring to making something more than one.

write it in plural

Refers to the written form of the plural version.

indicate it as plural

Instructs to denote something as being in its plural form.

FAQs

How do I use "make it plural" in a sentence?

You can use "make it plural" to instruct someone to change a singular noun to its plural form. For example: "If the subject refers to more than one item, "make it plural"."

What is an alternative to saying "make it plural"?

Alternatives include "pluralize it", "convert it to plural form", or "change it to plural", depending on the context.

Which is correct, "make it plural" or "make them plural"?

"Make it plural" is used when referring to a single word that needs to be pluralized. "Make them plural" would be used when you're referring to multiple items that need to be pluralized.

When should I use "make it plural" in writing?

Use "make it plural" when providing editing instructions or feedback on grammatical accuracy, especially when instructing someone to modify a singular noun to its plural form for correctness or clarity.