Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News Editorials & Other Articles General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

Writing

valerief

(53,235 posts) Sun Dec 23, 2012, 12:14 PM Dec 2012

Is there an epidemic of plural abstract nouns?

http://languagelog.ldc.upenn.edu/nll/?p=4376
links to http://moreintelligentlife.com/blog/absurd-persons-plural

Found this post on pluralization (or should I say pluralizations?) interesting on this language web site.

3 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

Is there an epidemic of plural abstract nouns? (Original Post) valerief Dec 2012 OP

I've noticed this as well. Orrex Dec 2012 #1

Willy gets blamed for everything! nt valerief Dec 2012 #2

I favor the use of more plural abstract nouns. Chan790 Dec 2012 #3

Orrex

(64,161 posts)

1. I've noticed this as well.

Reply to valerief (Original post)

Sat Dec 29, 2012, 08:22 PM

Dec 2012

I believe that it may have started with that hack who wrote that "all our yesterdays have lighted fools the way to dusty death."

What was he thinking?

valerief

(53,235 posts)

2. Willy gets blamed for everything! nt

Reply to Orrex (Reply #1)

Sun Dec 30, 2012, 11:52 AM

Dec 2012

Chan790

(20,176 posts)

3. I favor the use of more plural abstract nouns.

Reply to valerief (Original post)

Mon Dec 31, 2012, 02:42 PM

Dec 2012

I don't think they're useless at all but rather useful and in many contexts more-accurate than the grammatically-correct singular.

Second article I've read in the past day by some whiny stodgy literary old man for whom rules are tantamount over both comprehension and vernacular language. Fuck them all to kingdoms come!

Reply to this discussion