Plural spelling of tardy

Hi,

I've been spelling the plural form of tardy as tardies. Spell check underlines the word but does not give a different spelling. I also tried tardys and got the same results. What is the correct plural spelling for tardy?

It's not really a standard word. It's a bit of teacher jargon.

So, there s no real standard spelling. I suggest 'tardies'.



Cl

The plural is "tardies". Source wiktionary.

It is because "Tardy" is an adjective, not a noun, therefore it cannot have a plural form. A person does not have a tardy. He/she is tardy. The noun form of the word is tardiness.

I would think that the noun form also refers to instances of tardiness. "Your son has too many absences and tardies this semester."

Here is a grammar rule taught to me that I also used in my classroom:
When the word ends in "Y", change the "Y' to "I" and add "ES".

I have found that the creators of most computer "spell check" programs do not know correct spellings or proper grammar.

CliveHi,I think speaking of late students as 'tardies' is a part of teacher jargon.Clive

That must be a North American thing. In the UK, we'd use 'lates'.

AnonymousWhen the word ends in "Y", change the "Y' to "I" and add "ES".

Only when the Y follows a consonant.