Mistake in English Forums

Question

Hi.As you already know the short forms of minutes and minute are both min, but in this forum when somebody replies to a post, it will be written that X replied 5mins ago.I have checked several online dictionaries, but in all, min is the correct plural form not mins. I think it is better to change this basic mistake from this outstanding forum.Thanks

Mister Micawber · Accepted Answer

Both are acceptable. Most dictionaries show only the singular form if it is regular.

mins

minutes; plural form of min

MINS http://www.thefreedictionary.com/Minutes

Hrsanei · Answer

I checked Longman and Oxford dictionaries. in both min is considered for the short form of minutes.

I think it is a common mistake to use mins for minutes. at least I can say the word mins do not exist in dictionaries.

Beside Longman and OED, I checked these online dictionaries

http://

/

http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary

http://www.hyperdictionary.com/dict-e

However in all the above links, if you type min, it is introduced as an abbreviation for minute and minutes.

Thanks

Mister Micawber · Answer

Two of those links don't work, hrsanei, but anyway I don't think you are clear on how dictionaries and dictionary searches work. As I said before, regular plurals (including abbreviations) are normally not included in dictionary entries. Therefore, if you input 'mins' it will take you to the nearest equivalent, which is 'minute' or 'min'. Try inputting 'Drs' (abbeviation for 'doctors') into [url=http://www.onelook.com]ONE LOOK DICTIONARY[/url] – or simply input any regular plural like 'pencils' or 'noses' and see what you get.

My previous post documents two direct on-line references to 'mins' as abbreviating 'minutes'. None of your links have displayed any clear indication that it does not; they merely indicate that 'min' = 'minute'.

I will not be surprised if you eventually find a source that does prescribe 'min' (or 'kg' or 'lb' or
'yd') for both singular and plural – but usage refutes that prescription.

Hrsanei · Answer

Thanks for your complete answer.

I hope I don't sound stubborn or impolite by discussing this issue and carrying it too far, I am just discussing to learn.

Sorry for the wrong links, I had to test them before putting.

My Longman dictionary clearly considers min as an abbreviation for minutes and introduces mins as a fallacy. In addition, when you install a software in your computer the time will be written such as 5 min remaining.

Having googled the phrase, I came across the following pages which clarifies the issue to some extent.

1. http://wiki.answers.com/Q/How_do_you_abbreviate_minutes

2. http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0775271.html

BTW, if mins stands for minutes, so why in this forum it is written 5 hr and 30 min ago. and mins is only used when the time of commenting is less than an hour.

Thanks for your time

Mister Micawber · Answer

You do not seem impolite, but you seem rather stubborn for someone who does not know personally, but has found some reference which for some reason convinces you.

1-- a fallacy is a mistaken belief. We are talking about language use, which has nothing to do with belief. However, I am willing to look at the argument your Longman's puts forward if you will post it.

2-- Answers.com is an unreliable source. If you would take just a few minutes to go through some of its topics and answers, you would see that its answers are anonymous lay answers, and that it is about as reliable as the Urban Dictionary.
3-- Infoplease is about as reliable as the sources I gave you in my previous post; none of them are from well-known lexicographers, either, I think.
4-- I never said that 'mins' is the only abbreviation for the plural. I am well aware that 'min' is also used. We use both here at EF to show how descriptive our grammar is and how trivial the matter really is.

Hrsanei · Answer

Thanks for your reply.

I do believe that mins is widely used in variety of context. I found many sources saying mins& min both as the short form of minutes but I just posted the ones that supported my side.

Moreover, I am fully aware of the reliability of answers.com and that's the reason I never post my questions there, in that site one can find different answers for the same question.

But the reason one user had brought for its response seemed quite convincing to me saying that Minute is a unit of measure. Unit of measures have standard abbreviations, and they do not change in plural nor have a final period(unless it belongs to a sentense). so, the correct abbreviation for minute(s) is "min".

I think thats the reason we use kg, mm, cal,km,Oz for kilograms, Millimeters ,calories , kilometers and ounces respectively, at least I can say I have seen 70kg more than 70kgs.

It seems necessary to point out the fact that I do believe this forum more than any other online sources. The answers I received in this forum from you ,Clive, Jim, Grammer geek and many others who I cannot remember offhand were more convincing that of thoes I could find in dictionaries. I always appreciate the contribution you make to me and other members by answering posts sincerely in return of nothing. I have always told I wish there could be a gathering so members could see one another to strengthen the bond with each other.

At the first place, when I noticed mins in English forums beside min I thought one might be wrong. That was the reason of posting this.

Thanks for your help and time

Anonymous · Answer

hrsaneiThanks for your reply.I do believe that mins is widely used in variety of context. I found many sources saying mins& min both as the short form of minutes but I just posted the ones that supported my side. Moreover, I am fully aware of the reliability of answers.com and that's the reason I never post my questions there, in that site one can find different answers for the same question.But the reason one user had brought for its response seemed quite convincing to me saying that Minute is a unit of measure. Unit of measures have standard abbreviations, and they do not change in plural nor have a final period(unless it belongs to a sentense). so, the correct abbreviation for minute(s) is "min". I think thats the reason we use kg, mm, cal,km,Oz for kilograms, Millimeters ,calories , kilometers and ounces respectively, at least I can say I have seen 70kg more than 70kgs. It seems necessary to point out the fact that I do believe this forum more than any other online sources. The answers I received in this forum from you ,Clive, Jim, Grammer geek and many others who I cannot remember offhand were more convincing that of thoes I could find in dictionaries. I always appreciate the contribution you make to me and other members by answering posts sincerely in return of nothing. I have always told I wish there could be a gathering so members could see one another to strengthen the bond with each other. At the first place, when I noticed mins in English forums beside min I thought one might be wrong. That was the reason of posting this. Thanks for your help and time

Thanks for the informative debate, it seems that min is best used to abbreviate minute or minutes, yes,
just as it's, for example, 70kg and not 70kg. or 70kgs...
by the way, not wanting to start another debate, but I believe the abbreviation
of "sentences" is not "sentense"

Little joke, I know it was surely just a typo...
Thanks again, your detailed debate has helped me...

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