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== General noun rules == | == General noun rules == | ||
| + | Nouns in [[Oxford Dictionaries Online|Oxford Dictionaries Premium]] may be labelled as '''[MASS NOUN]'''; in some entries, a countable noun instance may be given, accompanied by a [COUNT NOUN] label followed by an example sentence. | ||
| − | + | If an entry for a noun has no label, it indicates that the noun is an ordinarily countable noun and so a plural is allowed: for example {{word|TABLE}} - {{word|TABLES}}, {{word|BOY}} - {{word|BOYS}}, {{word|LASS}} - {{word|LASSES}} etc. Plurals of nouns labelled '''[IN SINGULAR]''' are also allowed: for example {{word|NADIR}} – {{word|NADIRS}}. | |
| − | If an entry for a noun has | + | If an entry for a noun has the label '''[MASS NOUN]''', it means that the word is not normally or typically used in the plural: for example {{word|VIOLENCE}} or {{word|MOHAIR}}. In these cases, the plurals {{word|violences {{x}}}} or {{word|mohairs {{x}}}} are not allowed. |
| − | + | However, some entries with the '''[MASS NOUN]''' label do also give a [COUNT NOUN] sense, which provides a use of which the plural can be used under a specific context: for example {{word|GENOCIDE}} can be a mass noun or a count noun (‘news of genocides went unreported’), so {{word|GENOCIDES}} is valid. | |
| − | + | There are particular types of mass nouns that can take a plural under plausible circumstances, even when a count noun sense isn't explicitly given: for instance, when referring to different types of something such as food. The noun {{word|WHEAT}}, for example, is normally uncountable, but it is possible to talk about a wide selection of {{word|WHEATS}}. Because these types of nouns follow regular rules for forming plurals in particular contexts, the dictionary does not generally indicate that a plural may be allowed. The main types are listed below. Where a noun falls into one of these categories, it means that a plural is usually allowed, though each individual case will be judged on its merits. | |
== Pluralisable mass noun categories == | == Pluralisable mass noun categories == | ||
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* Drink e.g. {{word|RUM}} - {{word|RUMS}}, {{word|LAGER}} - {{word|LAGERS}} | * Drink e.g. {{word|RUM}} - {{word|RUMS}}, {{word|LAGER}} - {{word|LAGERS}} | ||
* Plants e.g. {{word|CLOVER}} - {{word|CLOVERS}}, {{word|BARLEY}} - {{word|BARLEYS}} | * Plants e.g. {{word|CLOVER}} - {{word|CLOVERS}}, {{word|BARLEY}} - {{word|BARLEYS}} | ||
| − | + | * Certain languages or subjects e.g. {{word|SCIENCE}} - {{word|SCIENCES}} | |
| − | * Certain languages or subjects e.g. {{word| | ||
* Metals and alloys e.g. {{word|STEEL}} - {{word|STEELS}}, {{word|SOLDER}} - {{word|SOLDERS}} | * Metals and alloys e.g. {{word|STEEL}} - {{word|STEELS}}, {{word|SOLDER}} - {{word|SOLDERS}} | ||
| − | * Rocks e.g. {{word|GRANITE}} - | + | * Rocks e.g. {{word|GRANITE}} - {{word|LAVA}} - {{word|LAVAS}}, {{word|CLAY}} - {{word|CLAYS}} |
* Chemical compounds e.g. {{word|FLUORIDE}} - {{word|FLUORIDES}}, {{word|HYDRIDE}} - {{word|HYDRIDES}} | * Chemical compounds e.g. {{word|FLUORIDE}} - {{word|FLUORIDES}}, {{word|HYDRIDE}} - {{word|HYDRIDES}} | ||
* Some substances or materials e.g. {{word|RIND}} - {{word|RINDS}}, {{word|SOIL}} - {{word|SOILS}}, {{word|SEALSKIN}} - {{word|SEALSKINS}}, {{word|SUNCREAM}} - {{word|SUNCREAMS}} | * Some substances or materials e.g. {{word|RIND}} - {{word|RINDS}}, {{word|SOIL}} - {{word|SOILS}}, {{word|SEALSKIN}} - {{word|SEALSKINS}}, {{word|SUNCREAM}} - {{word|SUNCREAMS}} | ||
| − | * An area of land of a specified type e.g. | + | * An area of land of a specified type e.g. {{word|TERRAIN}} - {{word|TERRAINS}} |
=== Portions or units of something === | === Portions or units of something === | ||
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* Drink e.g. {{word|LAGER}} (glasses/bottles of lager = {{word|LAGERS}}) | * Drink e.g. {{word|LAGER}} (glasses/bottles of lager = {{word|LAGERS}}) | ||
=== Special instances === | === Special instances === | ||
| − | * An action or process e.g. {{word|GENOCIDE}} (act of genocide = {{word|GENOCIDES | + | * An action or process e.g. {{word|GENOCIDE}} (act of genocide = {{word|GENOCIDES}}) |
* A surgical operation e.g. {{word|ABLATION}} - {{word|ABLATIONS}} | * A surgical operation e.g. {{word|ABLATION}} - {{word|ABLATIONS}} | ||
* An emotion, pain or feeling e.g. {{word|BACKACHE}} - {{word|BACKACHES}}, {{word|GRIEF}} (an instance or cause of grief = {{word|GRIEFS}}) | * An emotion, pain or feeling e.g. {{word|BACKACHE}} - {{word|BACKACHES}}, {{word|GRIEF}} (an instance or cause of grief = {{word|GRIEFS}}) | ||
| Line 42: | Line 42: | ||
* –{{word|AGE}} | * –{{word|AGE}} | ||
| − | Words in this category denoting an action ({{word|BREAKAGE}}), the product of an action ({{word|DOSAGE}}) or a place of abode ({{word|ORPHANAGE}}) may be pluralized. | + | Words in this category denoting an action ({{word|BREAKAGE}}), the product of an action ({{word|DOSAGE}}) or a place of abode ({{word|ORPHANAGE}}) may be pluralized. Many others do not have a logical plural sense ({{word|PARENTAGE}}). |
* –{{word|ING}} | * –{{word|ING}} | ||
| − | The plural of a word ending in –{{word|ING}} will not be allowed unless it is entered in | + | The plural of a word ending in –{{word|ING}} will not be allowed unless it is entered in ODO in pluralized form or as a count noun, e.g. {{word|ENDINGS}} is fine but {{word|BAKINGS}} would be disallowed. |
* Accented words are allowed, e.g. {{word|FIANCÉ}}. | * Accented words are allowed, e.g. {{word|FIANCÉ}}. | ||
| Line 51: | Line 51: | ||
=== Disallowed === | === Disallowed === | ||
| − | * –{{word|ER}} agent nouns not in | + | * –{{word|ER}} agent nouns not in ODO, e.g. {{word|CURER}} is fine but {{word|GUESTER}} is not. |
| − | * –{{word|ILY}} words not in | + | * –{{word|ILY}} words not in ODO, e.g. {{word|STUBBILY}} is fine but {{word|MANKILY}} is not. |
| − | * –{{word|LESS}} and –{{word|NESS}} words not in | + | * –{{word|LESS}} and –{{word|NESS}} words not in ODO, e.g. {{word|EARLESS}} is fine but {{word|BOATLESS}} is not; {{word|REDNESS}} is fine but {{word|BEIGENESS}} is not. |
| − | * {{word|UN}}- and {{word|RE}}- words not in | + | * {{word|UN}}- and {{word|RE}}- words not in ODO, e.g. {{word|UNSAY}} is fine but {{word|UNSCRAPE}} is not, {{word|REWORD}} is fine but {{word|REWATCH}} is not. |
| − | * {{word|BE}}- words not in | + | * {{word|BE}}- words not in ODO, e.g. {{word|BESTREW}} is fine but {{word|BESCATTER}} is not. |
== [[Conundrums]] == | == [[Conundrums]] == | ||
| − | The conundrum will not end in {{word|S}} to make a plural of a singular word in regular Countdown (though it | + | The conundrum will not end in {{word|S}} to make a plural of a singular word in regular Countdown (though it can do in ''[[8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown]]''). Whatever the scramble is, it will never be the answer (so if the conundrum spells out a word when it is first revealed, for example on [[Episode 1332|8 January 1993]], this won’t be the actual answer!) |
[[Category:Study aids]] | [[Category:Study aids]] | ||
[[Category:Techniques]] | [[Category:Techniques]] | ||
Latest revision as of 21:29, 17 July 2022
These guidelines are the notes published by the Countdown producers. The first notes outline the general rules that Dictionary Corner use when deciding whether a noun can have a plural.
Contents
General noun rules
Nouns in Oxford Dictionaries Premium may be labelled as [MASS NOUN]; in some entries, a countable noun instance may be given, accompanied by a [COUNT NOUN] label followed by an example sentence.
If an entry for a noun has no label, it indicates that the noun is an ordinarily countable noun and so a plural is allowed: for example TABLE - TABLES, BOY - BOYS, LASS - LASSES etc. Plurals of nouns labelled [IN SINGULAR] are also allowed: for example NADIR – NADIRS.
If an entry for a noun has the label [MASS NOUN], it means that the word is not normally or typically used in the plural: for example VIOLENCE or MOHAIR. In these cases, the plurals violences ☓ or mohairs ☓ are not allowed.
However, some entries with the [MASS NOUN] label do also give a [COUNT NOUN] sense, which provides a use of which the plural can be used under a specific context: for example GENOCIDE can be a mass noun or a count noun (‘news of genocides went unreported’), so GENOCIDES is valid.
There are particular types of mass nouns that can take a plural under plausible circumstances, even when a count noun sense isn't explicitly given: for instance, when referring to different types of something such as food. The noun WHEAT, for example, is normally uncountable, but it is possible to talk about a wide selection of WHEATS. Because these types of nouns follow regular rules for forming plurals in particular contexts, the dictionary does not generally indicate that a plural may be allowed. The main types are listed below. Where a noun falls into one of these categories, it means that a plural is usually allowed, though each individual case will be judged on its merits.
Pluralisable mass noun categories
Types or varieties
- Food e.g. YOGHURT - YOGHURTS, PASTA - PASTAS
- Drink e.g. RUM - RUMS, LAGER - LAGERS
- Plants e.g. CLOVER - CLOVERS, BARLEY - BARLEYS
- Certain languages or subjects e.g. SCIENCE - SCIENCES
- Metals and alloys e.g. STEEL - STEELS, SOLDER - SOLDERS
- Rocks e.g. GRANITE - LAVA - LAVAS, CLAY - CLAYS
- Chemical compounds e.g. FLUORIDE - FLUORIDES, HYDRIDE - HYDRIDES
- Some substances or materials e.g. RIND - RINDS, SOIL - SOILS, SEALSKIN - SEALSKINS, SUNCREAM - SUNCREAMS
- An area of land of a specified type e.g. TERRAIN - TERRAINS
Portions or units of something
- Food e.g. PAELLA (dishes of paella = PAELLAS), VINDALOO (dishes of vindaloo = VINDALOOS)
- Drink e.g. LAGER (glasses/bottles of lager = LAGERS)
Special instances
- An action or process e.g. GENOCIDE (act of genocide = GENOCIDES)
- A surgical operation e.g. ABLATION - ABLATIONS
- An emotion, pain or feeling e.g. BACKACHE - BACKACHES, GRIEF (an instance or cause of grief = GRIEFS)
Other areas of adjudication
These notes outline other rules to do with the adjudication of words.
Allowed
Logical inflections e.g. KNIGHTED, SCALDED are fine.
- –AGE
Words in this category denoting an action (BREAKAGE), the product of an action (DOSAGE) or a place of abode (ORPHANAGE) may be pluralized. Many others do not have a logical plural sense (PARENTAGE).
- –ING
The plural of a word ending in –ING will not be allowed unless it is entered in ODO in pluralized form or as a count noun, e.g. ENDINGS is fine but BAKINGS would be disallowed.
- Accented words are allowed, e.g. FIANCÉ.
Disallowed
- –ER agent nouns not in ODO, e.g. CURER is fine but GUESTER is not.
- –ILY words not in ODO, e.g. STUBBILY is fine but MANKILY is not.
- –LESS and –NESS words not in ODO, e.g. EARLESS is fine but BOATLESS is not; REDNESS is fine but BEIGENESS is not.
- UN- and RE- words not in ODO, e.g. UNSAY is fine but UNSCRAPE is not, REWORD is fine but REWATCH is not.
- BE- words not in ODO, e.g. BESTREW is fine but BESCATTER is not.
Conundrums
The conundrum will not end in S to make a plural of a singular word in regular Countdown (though it can do in 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown). Whatever the scramble is, it will never be the answer (so if the conundrum spells out a word when it is first revealed, for example on 8 January 1993, this won’t be the actual answer!)
