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Joseph Meehan

Keith Williams wrote:
In article ,
says...
On Wed, 12 Jul 2006 11:25:51 -0400, Keith Williams
wrote:

In article ,
says...
On Tue, 11 Jul 2006 23:23:31 -0000,
(Chris Lewis) wrote:

According to Goedjn :

I really wish that were the case. Besides, why use a
second rate measurement system when we could go with a better
one. inches, feet yards rods miles (two kinds) and no easy
conversions between any of them, while in

You forgot fathom, chains, furlong, leagues.

And to be offended that the plural for two of those is
the same as the singular.

There are 11 fathom in a surveyor's chain.

Not to mention 2.75 fathoms in a rod.

See? It's simple.

[I _think_ fathom and chain both pluralize with ".s"]

"Full fathom five my father lies, of his bones are coral made. . ."
And the other one is furlong.

Pluralization of both with the 's' is correct.

Pluralization of both with the 's' is common.
I suppose whether it's correct depends on
whether there's any meaning for 'correct' beyond
'a lot of people do it that way'.

Cite?

American Heritage Dictionary:

fath·om (f²th".m) n., pl. fathom or fath·oms. Abbr. fath, fath., fm., fth.
1. A unit of length equal to 6 feet (1.83 meters), used principally in the
measurement and specification of marine depths. --fath·om tr.v. fath·omed,
fath·om·ing, fath·oms. 1. To determine the depth of; sound. 2. To penetrate
to the meaning or nature of; comprehend. --fath"om·a·ble adj.

Note: it allows both forms with or without the "s"

--
Joseph Meehan

Dia duit