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Usenet Posted 22 years ago
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Coals: Is there such a word?

Is there such thing as the word "coals"? I ask because I ran accross this idiom, "carrying coals to Newcastle". I've believed that coal is both, the singular as well the plural form of the word, because it is an uncountable noun.
  

Top answer

Sathyaish typed thus: [nq:1]Is there such thing as the word "coals"? I ask because I ran accross this idiom, "carrying coals to Newcastle". [/nq] Yes.

  • Sathyaish typed thus: [nq:1]Is there such thing as the word "coals"?
  • I ask because I ran accross this idiom, "carrying coals to Newcastle".
  • [/nq] Yes.
  • Coal is an uncountable noun, but there is a slightly old fashioned plural form, relating to individual pieces of coal.
  • I might say: "Ensure that the coals are well alight before you leave the room".
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10 Answers
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Sathyaish typed thus:
[nq:1]Is there such thing as the word "coals"? I ask because I ran accross this idiom, "carrying coals to Newcastle". I've believed that coal is both, the singular as well the plural form of the word, because it is an uncountable noun.[/nq]
Yes. Coal is an uncountable noun, but there is a slightly old fashioned plural form, relating to individual pieces of coal.
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[nq:1]Sathyaish typed thus:[/nq]
[nq:2]Is there such thing as the word "coals"? I ask ... form of the word, because it is an uncountable noun.[/nq]
[nq:1]Yes. Coal is an uncountable noun, but there is a slightly old fashioned plural form, relating to individual pieces of coal. I might say: "Ensure that the coals are well alight before you leave the room".[/nq]
Coals don't necessary hav
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[nq:1]Sathyaish typed thus:[/nq]
[nq:2]Is there such thing as the word "coals"? I ask ... form of the word, because it is an uncountable noun.[/nq]
[nq:1]Yes. Coal is an uncountable noun, but there is a slightly old fashioned plural form, relating to individual pieces of coal. I might say: "Ensure that the coals are well alight before you leave the room".[/nq]
You also get raked over t
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[nq:2]Sathyaish typed thus: Yes. Coal is an uncountable noun, but ... the coals are well alight before you leave the room".[/nq]
[nq:1]You also get raked over the coals, never "the coal".[/nq]
I think we recently demonstrated that that particular idiom is botched, however; the coals are raked over, but you are hauled over the coals.

Matti
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[nq:2]You also get raked over the coals, never "the coal".[/nq]
[nq:1]I think we recently demonstrated that that particular idiom is botched, however; the coals are raked over, but you are hauled over the coals.[/nq]
Botched as it may be, it wins the Google contest 6,710 to 2,100. We are good at botching, doncha know?

Skitt (in Hayward, California)
www.geocities.com/opus731/
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[nq:1]Sathyaish typed thus:[/nq]
[nq:2]Is there such thing as the word "coals"? I ask ... form of the word, because it is an uncountable noun.[/nq]
[nq:1]Yes. Coal is an uncountable noun, but there is a slightly old fashioned plural form, relating to individual pieces of coal.[/nq]
To clarify slightly, it's only old-fashioned in that not many people still burn coal: those who do would
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[nq:1]Sathyaish typed thus:[/nq]
[nq:2]Is there such thing as the word "coals"? I ask ... form of the word, because it is an uncountable noun.[/nq]
[nq:1]Yes. Coal is an uncountable noun, but there is a slightly old fashioned plural form, relating to individual pieces of coal.[/nq]
I wouldn't call it old-fashioned particularly. Certainly when talking about small lumps of coal, like the
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[nq:1]Is there such thing as the word "coals"? I ask because I ran accross this idiom, "carrying coals to Newcastle". I've believed that coal is both, the singular as well the plural form of the word, because it is an uncountable noun.[/nq]
It is plural too, especially when the coals are glowing.

Steve Hayes from Tshwane, South Africa
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[nq:1]Is there such thing as the word "coals"? I ask because I ran accross this idiom, "carrying coals to Newcastle". I've believed that coal is both, the singular as well the plural form of the word, because it is an uncountable noun.[/nq]
It is plural too, especially when the coals are glowing.

Steve Hayes from Tshwane, South Africa
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[nq:1]On 16 Aug 2004, david56 wrote[/nq]
[nq:2]Sathyaish typed thus: Yes. Coal is an uncountable noun, but there is a slightly old fashioned plural form, relating to individual pieces of coal.[/nq]
[nq:1]To clarify slightly, it's only old-fashioned in that not many people still burn coal: those who do would use the plural without a second thought.[/nq]
I can verify that. I light coals

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