plural-001 should GuidesAPI docsMarketingBlog Don’t use parenthetical plural markers such as (s) or (ren). Choose a singular or plural form, or rewrite the sentence.
Pluralization
Most plural forms need no special guidance. This page covers cases that do: optional counts, trademarks, unit abbreviations, and terms written next to their abbreviations. Use it when choosing the plural form for one of these cases.
No parenthetical plurals
Section titled “No parenthetical plurals”Examples
- ✓ Delete the log files before you rerun the command.
- ✗ Delete the log file(s) before you rerun the command.
Rationale
A marker such as (s) makes the reader decide whether the sentence means one file or several, and a screen reader or a translator has to guess how to say it. One form, or a rewrite, decides it for them.
Don’t pluralize trademarks
Section titled “Don’t pluralize trademarks”plural-002 should GuidesAPI docsMarketingBlog Don’t pluralize a trademarked product name by inflecting the trademark. Add a generic plural noun after the singular trademark: Mac computers, not Macs.
Examples
- ✓ The test lab has six Mac computers.
- ✗ The test lab has six Macs.
Rationale
Inflecting a trademark changes its registered form. The generic noun takes the plural, so the trademark stays as registered. Also follow the owner’s trademark usage guidelines.
Don’t pluralize unit abbreviations
Section titled “Don’t pluralize unit abbreviations”plural-003 should GuidesAPI docsMarketingBlog Don’t pluralize unit-of-measure abbreviations when used with a number. The full word pluralizes; the abbreviation does not.
Examples
- ✓ Attachments up to 25 MB are supported.
- ✗ Attachments up to 25 MBs are supported.
Rationale
A unit-of-measure abbreviation is a symbol whose form doesn’t change with the quantity.
Match term and abbreviation in number
Section titled “Match term and abbreviation in number”plural-004 should GuidesAPI docsMarketingBlog When you spell out a term next to its abbreviation, make both singular or both plural: virtual machines (VMs), not virtual machines (VM).
Examples
- ✓ You can attach up to four virtual machines (VMs).
- ✗ You can attach up to four virtual machines (VM).
Rationale
If the term is plural and its abbreviation singular, the abbreviation looks like it stands for something else.