Some insist that the “-s” belongs on the noun in the middle of the expression (runners-up), and those with the common touch are content to leave it at the end (runner-ups). — javi2541997
So have you ever been challenged for saying Jack + s in a box or Jack-in-the-box + es? — javi2541997
So have you ever been challenged for saying Jack + s in a box or Jack-in-the-box + es? — javi2541997
Who was it who said...
Great minds discuss ideas; average minds discuss events; small minds discuss people; tiny minds discuss grammar. — Jamal
I cannot actually say that I have ever heard anyone say "runner-ups", but it definitely sounds wrong. — Sir2u
Jacks-in-the-box would imply that there are more than one Jack in one box, so it is grammatically incorrect as a plural when used for more than box. — Sir2u
The problem is that "Jacks-in-the-box" could be more than one Jack in a single box. So, I vote for that. Ambiguous and a little goofy. I am a big fan of ambiguous, goofy language. — T Clark
Ergo, plural would always be applied to Jack instead of box (right?). — javi2541997
Why do we disagree on how to pluralize?
The problem is Jack-in-the-box is a clause being used as a noun. It has a subject and predicate. — NOS4A2
As Quk points out, multiple Jacks in multiple boxes would be Jacks-in-the-boxes. — Sir2u
But how can we know that? — javi2541997
Twenty boxes containing ten applesin each. Could not be an apple in boxes.
Twenty boxes containing ten Jacks in each. Could not be a jack in the boxes. — Sir2u
Gins and tonic, passersby, etc. This is barely even linguistics, and I'm not sure why it's been put in philosophy of language.
Can anyone tell me why this shouldn't be put in the Lounge? — Jamal
So, the subject of this example is Jack, not the boxes. Ergo, plural would always be applied to Jack instead of box (right?). — javi2541997
If the phrase is being used as a noun, then it has to be treated as such. It does not have a subject nor a predicate because it is counted as one word, thus the hyphens. — Sir2u
(or choose your trusted authority and do as they say) — Dawnstorm
Javi is actually right here (in spirit): — Dawnstorm
How many jacks do you see here? — Sir2u
Now there is a jack, but the name is still "Jack-in-the-box" — Sir2u
This is sort of weird because I have not been able to find any use of Jacks-in-the-box on the most popular web sites, they all return Jack. — Sir2u
This is sort of weird because I have not been able to find any use of Jacks-in-the-box on the most popular web sites, they all return Jack. — Sir2u
It's interesting how you interpret "Jack-in-the-box" as a phrase and not as a word. I highlight this because, according to Steven Pinker, there are two different groups: those who interpret it as a phrase and those who interpret it as a word. He explains that they are not wrong, but in terms of pluralizing, that is when the debate starts up. — javi2541997
Get involved in philosophical discussions about knowledge, truth, language, consciousness, science, politics, religion, logic and mathematics, art, history, and lots more. No ads, no clutter, and very little agreement — just fascinating conversations.