grammatical number - Parenthetical pluralization of words ending in '-y'


Sentences constructed with a word written in the singular and parenthetically in the plural are straightforward when that word does not end in -y, e.g.:



List all applicable employee(s).



How does one handle words ending in -y? Is this correct:



I will attend the party(ies).




Answer



An alternative to the use of parentheses to provide both singular and plural forms is to separate them with a slash:



party/parties



This would be preferred in this and other similarly awkward formations such as wife/wives, and in special cases such as mouse/mice.


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