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Anonymous Posted 15 years ago
Grammar

Woman/women friends

Some excellent authors write "He has many woman friends"; other authors prefer "women friends." Which one do you recommend and why? Thank you.
  

Top answer

I too have heard both. Normally, nouns used as adjectives retain the singular: one committee room, two committee rooms. However, notional concord will suggest plural + plural to the speaker, especially as this noun + noun borders on noun + appositive.

— Mister Micawber

  • I too have heard both.
  • Normally, nouns used as adjectives retain the singular: one committee room, two committee rooms.
  • However, notional concord will suggest plural + plural to the speaker, especially as this noun + noun borders on noun + appositive.
  • COCA (the Corpus of Contemporary American English) produces only 4 reputable citings for 'woman friends', but 149 citings for 'women friends', so I suggest that you go with notional concord.
  • I would.
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2 Answers
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I too have heard both. Normally, nouns used as adjectives retain the singular: one committee room, two committee rooms. However, notional concord will suggest plural + plural to the speaker, especially as this noun + noun borders on noun + appositive.

COCA (the Corpus of Contemporary American English) produces only 4 reputable citings for 'woman friends', but 149 citings for 'women frie
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Thank very much, Mr. M.
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