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Julielai Posted 21 years ago
Grammar

Attorney generals or attorneys general

I've often heard "attorney generals", but then I came across "attorneys general" in a legal document.

Does it mean the latter is more formal?

Just curious.
  

Top answer

The American Heritage Dictionary and the Merriam Webster say the plural for "attorney general" can be either " attorneys general" or "attorney generals ". ) as ""attorney-general". When you google them limiting the domain to "gov" (US governmental sites), you will hit 42000 sites for "attorneys general" and 7000 sites for "attorney generals".

— Paco2004

  • The American Heritage Dictionary and the Merriam Webster say the plural for "attorney general" can be either " attorneys general" or "attorney generals ".
  • ) as ""attorney-general".
  • When you google them limiting the domain to "gov" (US governmental sites), you will hit 42000 sites for "attorneys general" and 7000 sites for "attorney generals".
  • When you google them limiting the domain to "uk" (British sites), you will hit 3500 sites for "attorneys general" and 1400 sites for "attorney generals".
  • paco
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2 Answers
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The American Heritage Dictionary and the Merriam Webster say the plural for "attorney general" can be either "attorneys general" or "attorney generals". The Oxford English Dictionary says "attorney generals" is better because the OED editors take the word (phrase?) as ""attorney-general". When you google them limiting the domain to "gov" (US governmental sites), you will hit
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