Among the annoying inconsistencies of the English language is what to do with plurals. The overall rule is to add the letter S to the end of any noun. Only sometimes, that rule turns into adding two letters: E and S. Then it gets even more complicated if the word ends in the letter Y. Words ending in a final O offer their own challenges.
You would think that a word ending with the letter O should just use the addition of an S. This is true. But only sometimes! Who decides these things? Why are two copies of a piano called pianos while two of the vegetable “potato” are called “potatoes?”
Doing a little research, I find the plural rule has been touched up since I was in school. Supposedly if the letter just before that final O is a consonant, then the plural will require the ES combination (rule one). This explains tomatoes and potatoes.
If the letter immediately before the final O is a vowel, then the single S will be sufficient (rule two) as with video and radio which become videos and radios.
Musical terms ignore both rules and (rule 3) usually use the single S. But then there is the question of whether the plural of tempo should be tempos or tempi–a subject for another time (pun?).
Sounds like all is resolved, right? But no. Hero according to the rules above should become “heros”, but its plural is heroes, and echo likewise becomes echoes.
If it is any consolation, just stick to the three rules offered here and you will usually have the correct spelling. If you need assurance, a dictionary in hand or on-line is always available to help you. And do not be hard on yourself if you are wrong, there are a lot people who will commiserate with you.
#EnglishLanguage #ESL
TRUANT WAKING
I must have fallen asleep
For suddenly the shadows
Are showing halfway across
The meadow fair.
The tinkle of bells in the air
Speaks of cows headed for home.
The bark of a dog sounds a welcome
Off in the distance toward home.
Over the high road I run swiftly.
I need to be home as daylight shifts,
Or Dad will know I was truant today.
Sometimes his strap really hurts.
But I won’t mind too much this time,
For today was absolutely sublime.
#SchoolTruant #PlayingHooky #SkippingSchool #NaturePoetry
Author’s Notes
GLASS RAIN—the poetry by Margaret Roxby
The poem “SUMMER LIVES,” is an Illini syllable sonnet which was first published in the 1987 collection of prize winning poems by the California Federation of Chaparral Poets. The author presents a nostalgic view of her childhood in West Virginia. The river mentioned is the Ohio which was a favorite playground and ran only a short distance from all of her childhood homes in her home town of Wheeling or on her summer visits to the rural residence of a relative.
REFRACTIONS –a poem by Robert Roxby
“TRUANT WAKING” is in the author’s collected poems, Reflections on a Lifetime, 2000. The author wrote several poems on the subject of truancy. Although he did well enough in his high school to qualify for two scholarships—Chemistry and Mathematics, he was apparently frequently a truant in his youth while his parents lived in the Appalachian hills.
THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS—the poetry of Kathleen Roxby
“FISHER IN THE SEA OF MEMORY” is included as a companion piece for “Summer Lives.”
SPLINTERS FOR SEPTEMBER 2021
SUBMISSION GUIDELINES
Readers who write in response to one of the prompts listed each month in Splintered Glass, may see their work presented here on the last week of that month. Though poems are preferred, short prose work will also be considered for publication.
Guidelines for submission:
STATE FAIR MEMORY, NO. 5
The thrum of guitar strings
Lifts him high above the crowd
And that frenetic noise.
The metal thunder-rumble
Of the carnival rides sifts
Into nothingness like the fragrances
Of barn, fast food stands,
Popcorn, cotton candy,
Ciders and beer all drifting away.
Wrapped in a cloud of music,
He floats free.
A hand slips gently into his,
Her softness leans into him.
As she lays her head on his shoulder,
The silkiness of her hair
Brushes his jaw.
Suspended in a memory,
He slowly smiles, listening:
It is their song.
#StateFairs
END OF SUMMER
Firefly summer
Vanishes into autumn smoke
Long sun days
And green grasses….
Gone into blue autumn smoke
And all our falling-star wishes
Are now pixie-men
Whose sylvan homes
Ring with elfin cries
That escape us forever
Like ghostly butterflies.
#SummerPoetry
THE PLURAL OF “O”
Among the annoying inconsistencies of the English language is what to do with plurals. The overall rule is to add the letter S to the end of any noun. Only sometimes, that rule turns into adding two letters: E and S. Then it gets even more complicated if the word ends in the letter Y. Words ending in a final O offer their own challenges.
You would think that a word ending with the letter O should just use the addition of an S. This is true. But only sometimes! Who decides these things? Why are two copies of a piano called pianos while two of the vegetable “potato” are called “potatoes?”
Doing a little research, I find the plural rule has been touched up since I was in school. Supposedly if the letter just before that final O is a consonant, then the plural will require the ES combination (rule one). This explains tomatoes and potatoes.
If the letter immediately before the final O is a vowel, then the single S will be sufficient (rule two) as with video and radio which become videos and radios.
Musical terms ignore both rules and (rule 3) usually use the single S. But then there is the question of whether the plural of tempo should be tempos or tempi–a subject for another time (pun?).
Sounds like all is resolved, right? But no. Hero according to the rules above should become “heros”, but its plural is heroes, and echo likewise becomes echoes.
If it is any consolation, just stick to the three rules offered here and you will usually have the correct spelling. If you need assurance, a dictionary in hand or on-line is always available to help you. And do not be hard on yourself if you are wrong, there are a lot people who will commiserate with you.
#EnglishLanguage #ESL
Author’s Notes
GLASS RAIN—the poetry by Margaret Roxby
“END OF SUMMER” was found among the author’s papers.
KALEIDOSCOPE –an essay by Kathleen Roxby
“THE PLURAL OF “O” explores the one spelling irregularity of the English language.
THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS—the poetry of Kathleen Roxby
‘STATE FAIR MEMORY, NO. 5” was inspired by “State Fair Memory, No. 14” which appeared in August.
SUBMISSION GUIDELINES
Readers who write in response to one of the prompts listed each month in Splintered Glass, may see their work presented here on the last week of that month. Though poems are preferred, short prose work will also be considered for publication.
Guidelines for submission:
SPLINTERS FOR SEPTEMBER 2021