Someones

Question

Hi,

I've seen 'someones' is used occasionally. For instance, special someones.

But I looked up dictionaries and found out 'someone' only appeared in singular and had no plural form.

So, 'special someones' propably is improper. What do you think?

Since 'someone' is singular, I'm wondering what is the proper term(s) for its plural?

Thanks,

MrPedantic · Accepted Answer

Hello MtL

This is the kind of phrase you find in advertising blurb:

1. *NEW!* English Forums Prepositions! Ten-Year Guarantee! For that Special Someone!

i.e. if someone is 'special' to you (e.g. a girlfriend, a husband), buy them a few English Forums prepositions.

You could extend this meaning to say:

2. *NEW!* English Forums Adverbs! Hardly Used! For those 'Special Someones'!

Normally, you would say e.g. 'some special people', instead of 'special someones'. But since 'special someone' is a set phrase, you can (semi-jocularly) treat it as a single word, in contexts such as advertising and informal literature, and simply add an S.

Cf. 'Walkman': we say 'Walkmans', not 'Walkmen'.

MrP

Meantolearn · Answer

Hi Mr.P.,

Thanks for your comments. I appreciate it.

Cheerio

X.mehrdad · Answer

Hello,
Could it be used as a subject, or as an object? If so what should be the form of corresponding verb?

MrPedantic · Answer

Hello x.m.

That's a very interesting question. The phrase seems to be used mostly as an object, which is reasonable enough, since the context is usually 'advertiser encouraging you to do something for someone', as in these real examples:

1. Sometimes the best way to find that "special someone" is by dating lots of
potential "special someones."

2. Visitors to this site share their many and varied ways of showing affection
to their special someones.

(In #1, all the 'special someones' relate to one person. In #2, there is presumably approximately one 'special someone' per visitor.)

But within the advertising framework, it's possible to think of instances where the phrase could be used as a subject, especially if it were used to mean 'anyone who is special to you', rather than simply 'girlfriend/boyfriend/husband/wife etc'. In which case it would take a plural verb:

3. Do your 'special someones' deserve something special this Christmas?

Or it might refer collectively to every reader's separate 'special someone':

4. All our 'special someones' deserve something special. So why not introduce yours to English Forums this Easter? Here they can ask and answer questions on modal verbs to their heart's content. And it won't cost you a penny! No more expensive restaurants. No more bunches of flowers. Just verbs and nouns and a happy smile on the face of the one you love. You'll soon see the difference. So don't delay – sign them up today! And make your 'special someone' really something special this Easter!

(Or words to that effect.)

MrP

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