Have you ever written "attornies" instead of "attorneys" and wondered if you got it right? You’re not alone in this! Let’s clear up the confusion about these terms so you can use them correctly in your writing.
The correct plural form of attorney is attorneys. The word “attornies” is a common misspelling and should not be used. For instance, when referring to multiple lawyers, you would say, “The case was handled by three attorneys.”
This rule applies because in English, most nouns ending in a consonant followed by ‘y’ form their plurals by changing ‘y’ to ‘i’ and adding ‘es’. However, attorney is an exception. Always use attorneys when talking about more than one lawyer.
Understanding the Plural Form of Attorney
An attorney is someone legally appointed to represent another person, or to act on their behalf. But how do we talk about more than one attorney? This is where many people get tripped up. The confusion mainly arises from the possibility of how to form the plural correctly.
The correct plural form of attorney is attorneys. To form the plural, we simply add an "s" at the end. This rule is quite straightforward and follows the basic rules of English pluralization when a word ends in a consonant and "y".
Why Not “Attornies”?
You might be wondering why "attornies" is incorrect. After all, there are words that change "y" to "ies" in the plural form, like "party" which changes to "parties". So, what gives?
The rule in English states that if a noun ends with a vowel followed by a "y", we just add an "s" to make it plural. Since attorney ends in "ney" (with the vowel "e" before the "y"), we just add an "s". The words that change "y" to "ies" are those that have a consonet before the "y", like "city" turning into "cities".
Examples of Correct Usage
Let’s look at some examples to make it even clearer:
- The court was filled with attorneys ready to present their cases.
- We need to hire more attorneys to manage our growing client list.
- All attorneys must pass the bar exam to practice law.
These sentences show the correct use of the term when referring to multiple legal professionals.
Exception to Remember
It’s important to remember, this rule is specifically for the word "attorney". Not all similar words follow the same pattern. For instance, "money" becomes "monies" sometimes in more formal contexts, but that’s an exception and rare in comparison.
Visualizing the Difference
Think of the word "attorney" like a bunch of keys. Just as you add more keys to a keyring without changing the ring itself, you add an "s" to "attorney" to bring more of them together without changing the base word.
Easier Ways to Remember
If English isn’t your first language, remembering all different plural forms can be tough. Here’s a simple trick: if you hear a vowel before the last "y" in a word, just think about adding an "s" to make it plural.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
When writing, especially in formal documents or emails, using the wrong plural form of "attorney" can look careless. Always double-check your usage by remembering the simple rule and examples discussed.
Is it "attorneys" or "attornies"? Now, you know it’s always attorneys when you’re talking about more than one. Keep practicing the examples and using the word in your daily writing. You’ll master it in no time! And if you are ever in doubt, just add that single "s"; it’s as simple as that.
