Plural with words ending with "f"

[nq:1]By making the plural form for nouns ending with "f", when do I need to change "f" into "ves"? Here are some words with "f" as ending: wife scarf knife leaf etc.[/nq]
Well, actually, you change the "f" to "ve" and add "s" to form the plural, but you have the right idea. The answer to your question, unfortunately, is "Most of the time, but not always" Many words can be pluralized either by

[nq:1]By making the plural form for nouns ending with "f", when do I need to change "f" into "ves"? Here are some words with "f" as ending: wife scarf knife leaf etc.[/nq]
When it is correct. Consider "waifs".
GFH

[nq:2]By making the plural form for nouns ending with "f", ... words with "f" as ending: wife scarf knife leaf etc.[/nq]
[nq:1]When it is correct. Consider "waifs".[/nq]
I submit the most commonly used "f" to "ves" word: life/lives.

[nq:2]By making the plural form for nouns ending with "f", when do I need to change "f" into "ves"?[/nq]
[nq:1]Also, the rule does not apply to words ending in "ff". They are pluralized with a simple "s" "muffs", "riffs".[/nq]
Except staff, pl. staves or staffs.
[nq:1]You might want to check out this site for some simple rules about pluralizing: . Words ending in "f" are covered by rul

[nq:2]When it is correct. Consider "waifs".[/nq]
[nq:1]I submit the most commonly used "f" to "ves" word: life/lives.[/nq]
Not to be applied to 'fife' though!

[nq:2]I submit the most commonly used "f" to "ves" word: life/lives.[/nq]
[nq:1]Not to be applied to 'fife' though![/nq]
Right.
A word that I learned: "handkerchief->-chieves.
But never have heard "chief->chieves", though I have heard "thief->thieves".
I learned "hoof-> hooves", at just about the same time I saw this book title in a library (1949 or '50): Flying Hoo

[nq:2]By making the plural form for nouns ending with "f", ... words with "f" as ending: wife scarf knife leaf etc.[/nq]
[nq:1]Well, actually, you change the "f" to "ve" and add "s" to form the plural, but you have the right ... such a word; its plural can be either "scarves" or "scarfs". "Roof" is another, and I'm sure there are more.[/nq]
Hunh? "Roofs" is /always/ spelled with an 'f'.

[nq:2]By making the plural form for nouns ending with "f", ... words with "f" as ending: wife scarf knife leaf etc.[/nq]
[nq:1]When it is correct. Consider "waifs".[/nq]
I'd rather not. I prefer my models to have a bit more meat on them.

(And I'm not getting involved in an 'f'-word discussion).

[nq:2]Well, actually, you change the "f" to "ve" and add ... "scarfs". "Roof" is another, and I'm sure there are more.[/nq]
[nq:1]Hunh? "Roofs" is /always/ spelled with an 'f'.[/nq]
Of course it is. If there's no "f" in it, it can't be "roofs." But the question is whether "rooves," which has no "f", is also a legitimate plural of "roof." According to the Third M-W Unabridged, it is.
An

[nq:2]I submit the most commonly used "f" to "ves" word: life/lives.[/nq]
[nq:1]Not to be applied to 'fife' though![/nq]
A bunch of fives?
Chris R