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Victo Posted 13 years ago
Grammar

(Forename Plurals) Alexises, Jameses, etc — Tough One!

Is this correct to indicate the plural of first names?

How many Jameses (for 'James') Alexises (for 'Alexis'), Thomases (for 'Thomas') Amys (for 'Amy'), Justins (for 'Justin'), Phillipses or (for 'Phillips') and Michaels (for 'Michael') are in that school anyway?
  

Top answer

I 've always avoided this kind of awkwardness in writing. I'd say eg How many people called James, Alexis, Thomas, Amy. Justin, Philip and Michael are in that school, anyway?

— Clive

  • I 've always avoided this kind of awkwardness in writing.
  • I'd say eg How many people called James, Alexis, Thomas, Amy.
  • Justin, Philip and Michael are in that school, anyway?
  • Clive
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4 Answers
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I've always avoided this kind of awkwardness in writing.

I'd say eg How many people called James, Alexis, Thomas, Amy. Justin, Philip and Michael are in that school, anyway?

Clive
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I agree with Clive, but I would use named instead of called to prevent momentary ambiguity.
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But are the plurals correctly written in each? Sorry for splitting that infinitive. (Ouch!)
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victoBut are the plurals correctly written in each?
Phillipses sounds silly, but the rest are OK.
victoSorry for splitting that infinitive.
I don’t see any split infinitives.
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