Thank you Robin. It does make sense. I first encountered this problem when I
read the Antique Laces of the American Collectors. Then I devised my slide
show which I called The Laces of the Robber Barons. But the more I said the
title, the worse it sounded. Now I refer to it as The Lace of the Robber
Barons,
on the theory that E.B.White, author of the classic American style book,
said, that if it doesn't sound right, don't say it. What would you say the
correct title of my slide show should be?
Devon
In a message dated 3/19/2009 1:43:20 A.M. Eastern Daylight Time,
robinl...@socal.rr.com writes:
---- dmt11h...@aol.com wrote:
Another English language style issue which needs resolution in an official
lace style manual is whether the plural of lace is lace or laces. ----
"Lace" can be like "fish" (the words, not the objects!). Several of the
same species are "fish". Several different species are "fishes". When
talking
about the laces of several regions, it's pluralized. When talking about the
category of textiles, we say "lace is made in many lands". Note that the
verb is singlular ("is", not "are"), so "lace" is singlular. I would say "I
have five pieces of lace", but again this is using "lace" as a category, not a
bunch of objects.
It's late, I'm tired, and I suspect this doesn't make much sense, but I've
tried....
Robin P.
Los Angeles, California, USA
robinl...@socal.rr.com
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