grammatical number - Countable ingredient pluralization for English cookbooks


The rule for countable ingredient pluralization appears to be:



If more than one countable ingredient is necessary to fill the required amount, then the ingredient is pluralized.



For example:



  • 2 cups watermelon

  • 2 watermelons

  • 2 barrels watermelons

  • 2 tsps egg yolk

  • 1 cup egg yolks


When writing a cookbook, what determines whether a countable ingredient should be pluralized (in the ingredient list)?



Answer



In my experience (I work as a cookbook editor), the ingredient itself is singular if only one of them is required to fill the quantity. For example, only one watermelon is required to fill two cups, so you'd write "2 cups watermelon" (as in your example). On the other hand, you'd need more than one watermelon to fill two barrels (unless the barrels are super small, I guess), so you'd write "2 barrels watermelons" (also as in your example).


That's why you say "2 cups nuts"--you need more than one nut.


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