"Optionals"?

Hi Jack,

Nouns from adjectives exist in abundance: 'the True is not always the Beautiful', 'the old often suffer in modern society'. Nouns can also be coined from adjectives, but they may not be accepted as standard English. In your example, did you read it somewhere? The correct noun, 'options' already exists for that case.

Thanks, Mr Micawber.
Well, I've asked this question because in Italy (I'm Italian) we sometimes use the English word "optional" as a noun, often in the plural, usually meaning an accessory (for example, of a car) that isn't included in the price: so, if you want to have it you have to pay an additional price.
It sometimes happens that we use English (or French, etc.) words in a way that

Well, I found lots via google, including a music group and the domain name for sale:

"OPTIONALS.COM / optionals.com
Description Any negotiations reflect the seller's current asking price and are subject to change until a sale is confirmed.
Minimum Offer $700.00
Asking Price $5,000.00 "

So it is possible to use it in your sentence; however, it is still onl

Thank you again, Mr Micawber.
So it's English.
But in your opinion it isn't an "accepted coinage". I am usually rather purist, but in this particular case I'm not sure that I can see why I should avoid using "car optionals", or similar phrases: "accessory" is properly an adjective, too, but isn't it correct to use it as a noun (e.g., "car accessories")?
But I'm ready to change my m

I've checked through some online dictionary sites like dictionary.com, yourdictionary.com, Merriam-Webster Online and Cambridge's online dictionary, and this word is only defined as an adjective.
No entry as a noun could be found, so, I guess it isn't accepted yet.

Hi,

In Britain, 'optionals' is not used as a noun.

We would say 'options' or 'optional extras'.

I see. Thank you very much.

What about American (or Australian, etc.) English? Does anybody know?

Thanks in advance for your answers.

I've loked up "optional" in my dictionaries too and it seems to be an adjective only.

A comment about "The true is not always the beautiful":
"true" and "beautiful" are not really nouns. What you see in that sentence is called "nominalisation of an adjective", by means of which you can use an adjective to replace the noun it would modify (if the noun were present). It is part of th

Thanks, Miriam.

I think that "accessory" is properly an adjective, and can be used as such: as, "the essential and the accessory words (in a sentence)".
In "car accessories", and other similar phrases, the adjective has become a noun, as we can easily see because of the "-s" of the plural (as opposed to "the true" etc.: you're quite right). But it seems undoubtable to me that "car

So, it seems that "optionals" is generally considered incorrect in English, isn't it?
Thank you for your remarks.