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Plural of Baby
The Quick Answer
The plural of "baby" is "babies."The Plural of Baby
The plural of "baby" is "babies."- Milk is for babies. When you grow up you have to drink beer. (Actor Arnold Schwarzenegger)
- God looks out for fools and babies. (Singer Meshell Ndegeocello)
Are You Good at Plurals?
Here's a quick test.The Standard Rules for Forming the Plurals
The table below shows the standard rules for forming the plurals of nouns in English.| Type | Example of Type | Forming the Plural | Plural |
|---|---|---|---|
| Most Nouns |  lamp scythe |
add s | lamps scythes |
| Noun Ending s, sh, ch, x or z | bus dress |
add es | buses dresses |
| Nouns ending [consonant] o | hero zero tomato |
add either s or es (There are no rules for this - you have to know.) |
heroes zeros tomatoes |
| Nouns ending [vowel] o | patio ratio
|
add s | patios ratios |
| Nouns ending [consonant] y | story baby |
change the y to an i and add es | stories babies |
| Nouns ending [vowel] y | valley chimney
|
add s | valleys chimneys |
| Nouns ending f or fe | dwarf hoof
|
ves and/or s (There are no rules - you have to know.) |
dwarfs hooves or
hoofs |
| Exceptions | man louse
|
some nouns undergo a vowel or letters change |
men lice |
| More exceptions | salmon sheep
|
some nouns do not change at all | salmon sheep |
Why Is There Confusion over the Plural of Baby?
"Babies" is the only way to make the noun "baby" plural.Confusion arises because a noun that ends [vowel] + "y" (e.g., "donkey") forms its plural by adding just "s" (e.g., "donkeys").
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Self Help
Buy the Grammar Monster book.
Suitable for: Teachers, advanced students, and business writers.
Description: Published by London's Octopus Publishing, "Smashing Grammar" is the third, and most comprehensive, grammar reference book written by Craig Shrives (the founder of the Grammar-Monster.com). It is divided into three sections:
Description: Published by London's Octopus Publishing, "Smashing Grammar" is the third, and most comprehensive, grammar reference book written by Craig Shrives (the founder of the Grammar-Monster.com). It is divided into three sections:
- A-Z Grammar Glossary (This section explains grammar terminology, from the basics to advanced terms. It is especially useful because every entry concludes with a valuable and succinct explanation of why the grammar term matters for a writer.)
- A-Z of Punctuation (Packed with entertaining examples, this section provides definitive, well-explained rules for using all the principal punctuation marks. Punctuation should not be guesswork. There are rules.)
- A-Z of Easily Confused Words (This section covers all the homonyms and near homonyms that plague writers and offers tips on how to remember which to use.)
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