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Compound nouns have three ways of spelling: two components are separated by a hyphen, written in
one word or written separately. To form the plural of compound words spelled with a hyphen -s is added
to the principal word:
daughters-in-law passersby
editors-in-chief girlfriends
lookers-on watchmakers
When compound singular nouns are spelled as one solid word, they are pluralized by adding -s to the
last word:
airships bookcases
baseballs bywords
beefsteaks churchgoers
The plural of compound words with vowel-changing words in them will be:
airmen
mailmen
womendoctors
Compound nouns consisting of two separate components add -s for the plural number to the last
component:
apple trees ocean liners
bank books post officers
car fares water jackets
leaf buds wind gauges
Note even: trouser pockets, pyjama jacket.
Proper names form their plurals by adding -s or -es: Adams, Georges, Henries, Dickenses. When a
proper name is accompanied by a title, either the proper name or the title may be made plural:
Doctor Hills Mrs Thomases
Doctors Hill Mesdames Thomas
Letters, numerals and symbols are preferably pluralized by the addition of's:
three r's and four s's
my four's and five's
your etc.'s and i.e.'s
all M.P.'s
Some nouns have the same form for the singular and for the plural: cod, deer, grouse, sheep, trout,
quail, aircraft;
dozen (twelve), score (twenty), stone (6,35 kg);
means, series, species, works, barracks, headquarters.
Some nouns have two plurals, each plural form differs in meaning from the other:
colour — цвет
colours — цвета
colours — флаг
cloth — ткань; лоскут
cloths — куски материи
clothes — платье, одежда
custom — обычай
customs — обычаи
customs — таможенные пошлины