Coals: Is there such a word?

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.

[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

[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

[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

[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/

[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

[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

[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

[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

[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