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Anonymous Posted 15 years ago
Grammar

Countermeasure

Is "countermeasure" countable or is it plural only?

I have always used it as a countable noun, but Macmillian disctionary says it's plural.

My god...! Help.
  

Top answer

w=countermeasure&ls=a ] THESE [/url] say 'countermeasure' is either a solely plural word. It is a regular countable noun with '-s' plural. A couple of on-line dictionaries (Macmillan, the Free Dictionary) do list it only in its plural form ('countermeasures'), and it is indeed used that way more often, but not to the exclusion of the singular, I am sure.

— Mister Micawber

  • w=countermeasure&ls=a ] THESE [/url] say 'countermeasure' is either a solely plural word.
  • It is a regular countable noun with '-s' plural.
  • A couple of on-line dictionaries (Macmillan, the Free Dictionary) do list it only in its plural form ('countermeasures'), and it is indeed used that way more often, but not to the exclusion of the singular, I am sure.
  • The latter dictionaries are in a minority, but it is interesting to see that much difference in lexicographic opinion.
  • Reputable sources from COCA: countermeasure — 17,578 countemeasures — 72,638
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2 Answers
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None of [url=http://www.onelook.com/?w=countermeasure&ls=a] THESE[/url] say 'countermeasure' is either a solely plural word. It is a regular countable noun with '-s' plural. A couple of on-line dictionaries (Macmillan, the Free Dictionary) do list it only in its plural form ('countermeasures'), and
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thank you SOOO much. I thought I was in the ***.
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