Two Methods/Names/Titles - Number - Gender - Noun-Parts Of Speech-ESL/Learn English Grammar

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[Sidenote: Two methods in use for names with titles.]


52. As to plurals of names with titles, there is some disagreement

among English writers. The title may be plural, as _the Messrs.

Allen_, _the Drs. Brown_, _the Misses Rich_; or the name may be

pluralized.


The former is perhaps more common in present-day use, though the

latter is often found; for example,--


Then came Mr. and Mrs. Briggs, and then _the three Miss

Spinneys_, then Silas Peckham.--DR. HOLMES.


Our immortal Fielding was of the younger branch of the _Earls of

Denbigh_, who drew their origin from the _Counts of

Hapsburgh_.--GIBBON.


The _Miss Flamboroughs_ were reckoned the best dancers in the

parish.--GOLDSMITH.


The _Misses Nettengall's_ young ladies come to the Cathedral

too.--DICKENS.


The _Messrs. Harper_ have done the more than generous thing by

Mr. Du Maurier.--_The Critic_.



53. A number of foreign words have been adopted into English

without change of form. These are said to be _domesticated_, and

retain their foreign plurals.


Others have been adopted, and by long use have altered their power so

as to conform to English words. They are then said to be

_naturalized_, or _Anglicized_, or _Englished_.


Domesticated words:-


The domesticated words may retain the original plural. Some of them

have a secondary English plural in _-s_ or _-es_.



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