‘Unless’ or ‘Until’: It’s a Matter of Fairness
•September 20, 2023•
By Jim Baumann
NP Guest Writer
There are those who say “mother-in-laws” and “attorney generals” and those of us who know the “in law” and “general” are modifiers.
You wouldn’t pluralize a modifier, would you? So it should be mothers-in-law and attorneys general.
Reader Bob Anderson pointed out to me the term “femme fatales” in a recent obituary. My first thought: That must have been a spicier-than-usual obit.
Bob’s point, however, is the plural should have been ”femmes fatale,” because “femme” is the noun modified by the adjective “fatale.” Think “Your mothers-in-law are femmes fatale.”
Man, I should be writing romance novels.