I could see the arguement if you are talking about several species of deer, much like fish vs fishes.
1 fish is a fish. Many fish are fish. A trout and a cod together are fishes.
But aside from that, it’s just ignorance or the incorrect gaining critical mass. Am I thinking about this incorrectly or is there a legitimate argument for changing the current grammatical norms?
Also, does this apply to ‘mooses’, ‘sheeps’, ‘bisons’, or non animal variants like ‘fruits’ and ‘aircrafts’?
Am I thinking about this incorrectly or is there a legitimate argument for changing the current grammatical norms?
You are thinking of it incorrectly. Language shifts and grammar shifts with it. Grammar “rules” are guidelines on how language is most commonly used to get ideas across.
It’s still important to teach grammar because it gives someone the tools to convey their ideas in a way that most people will understand, but outside of a classroom it’s pointlessly pedantic to correct someone’s grammar unless their meaning gets muddled.
So maybe usage will shift enough that “deers” will be the new standard plural maybe not, the important thing is you know what they meant when they said “deers”.
For an increasing number of English speakers, the plural is in fact “deers”.
That’s one of my biggest fear.
That’s not the evolution of language, that’s just people parading their ignorance.
I could see the arguement if you are talking about several species of deer, much like fish vs fishes.
1 fish is a fish. Many fish are fish. A trout and a cod together are fishes.
But aside from that, it’s just ignorance or the incorrect gaining critical mass. Am I thinking about this incorrectly or is there a legitimate argument for changing the current grammatical norms?
Also, does this apply to ‘mooses’, ‘sheeps’, ‘bisons’, or non animal variants like ‘fruits’ and ‘aircrafts’?
You are thinking of it incorrectly. Language shifts and grammar shifts with it. Grammar “rules” are guidelines on how language is most commonly used to get ideas across.
It’s still important to teach grammar because it gives someone the tools to convey their ideas in a way that most people will understand, but outside of a classroom it’s pointlessly pedantic to correct someone’s grammar unless their meaning gets muddled.
So maybe usage will shift enough that “deers” will be the new standard plural maybe not, the important thing is you know what they meant when they said “deers”.
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