Grammar question: Plural of Model S?

[Grendal]

The plural of Model S is Excessive... No? Too much?

Seriously... Model S's "Hey look at those Model S's over there!"

A group of Teslas should be called a pack. "Dude! There's a whole pack of Tesla's in that parking lot. They're the coolest!"

 

[mt2]

"Y"?!

"C" http://www.youtube.com/results?q=the+most+interesting+man+in+the+world&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&tab=w1

 

[daniel]

I've taken to leaving it unchanged for the plural. Some words in English do that. The plural of moose is moose. (Not mooses or mooii.) I have a strong dislike of pluralizing Latin-derived words in English according to faux-Latin grammar rules. (The real Latin grammar rules are much more complex, involving case declensions, etc.) Some are established, such as datum/data, but when the English word is an invented word, like Prius, it sounds to me pretentious and pompous to use Prii as the plural. (And I've even seen people using Prii as the singular!) For me, it's Priuses and Model S. "There were ten Priuses and ten Model S driving in the parade."

 

[Citizen-T]

They say that the more frequently a word is used the faster it becomes regular. By that logic I hope the general public quickly adopts "Model Ses". That'll be a sign that they are EVERYWHERE!

 

[NigelM]

I've taken to leaving it unchanged for the plural. Some words in English do that. The plural of moose is moose. (Not mooses or mooii.)......For me, it's Priuses and Model S. "There were ten Priuses and ten Model S driving in the parade."

In his blog GeorgeB seems to agree with you. That's pretty much how he uses it.

 

[JRod0802]

A group of Teslas should be called a pack. "Dude! There's a whole pack of Tesla's in that parking lot. They're the coolest!"

I think TEG beat you to that... in March of 2009
Collective noun for a group of Teslas

 

[daniel]

I am going to suggest one I didn't see in that other thread: A clover of Teslas.

Clover makes me think of a field of hay on the prairie, green and clean, and when newly cut, one of the most pleasant of smells. Back when I worked on the farm, the only way to get the smell of gas or diesel off my hands after filling the tractor or the truck, was to pull up a handfull of grass or clover and rub my hands vigorously with it. Clover = clean and sweet-smelling.

 

[NigelM]

I am going to suggest one I didn't see in that other thread: A clover of Teslas.

Clover makes me think of a field of hay on the prairie, green and clean, and when newly cut, one of the most pleasant of smells. Back when I worked on the farm, the only way to get the smell of gas or diesel off my hands after filling the tractor or the truck, was to pull up a handfull of grass or clover and rub my hands vigorously with it. Clover = clean and sweet-smelling.

Lemon works the same way.....can't see that being accepted in relation to Tesla though!

 

[Robert.Boston]

I've taken to leaving it unchanged for the plural. Some words in English do that. ... "There were ten Priuses and ten Model S driving in the parade."

While I still would go with the Chicago Manual of Style and write "Model Ss", I concede, Daniel, that your proposal conforms to Tesla Motors' official usage. Here are some quotes from the 2012 Q1 10-Q; in each sentence, replace "Model S" with "rocket" and you'll see that "Model S" is its own plural.

As of March 31, 2012, we held reservation payments for undelivered Model S and Model X in an aggregate amount of $112.6 million.

{we} plan to manufacture Model S in higher volumes than those for the Tesla Roadster. We anticipate that initial deliveries of Model S will begin in June 2012.

There are a few examples where they weaseled out of this issue using a construction like this:

We have produced 50 beta and several release candidate prototype Model S cars in the Tesla Factory

We began building release candidate Model S vehicles in the first quarter of 2012

 

[SCW-Greg]

What's the plural of Model S?

The official answer...

Rules for Proper Use of Trademarks

1. Trademarks are adjectives used to modify nouns; the noun is the generic name of a product or service.

2. As adjectives, trademarks may not be used in the plural or possessive form.

Correct: I bought two Tesla S sedans. They had two S EV's on display.

Not Correct: I bought two S'.

*** Sorry, I live in the brand world. :wink:

 

[Citizen-T]

Sorry, I live in the brand world. :wink:

Don't be sorry, we have need of all kinds of disciplines here on the forums to answer all the crazy questions we come up with. Your knowledge is appreciated.

 

[Robert.Boston]

The official answer...

Rules for Proper Use of Trademarks

1. Trademarks are adjectives used to modify nouns; the noun is the generic name of a product or service.

2. As adjectives, trademarks may not be used in the plural or possessive form.

Hmm, this rule clearly is more of a guideline.
"Have a Coke [carbonated beverage] and a smile."
"Have you driven a Ford [vehicle] lately?"
"I'd walk a mile for a Camel [cigarette]."
etc.

 

[NigelM]

Hmm, this rule clearly is more of a guideline.
"Have a Coke [carbonated beverage] and a smile."
"Have you driven a Ford [vehicle] lately?"
"I'd walk a mile for a Camel [cigarette]."
etc.

"I'd like one beer and two cokes please?"
"There were two Fords parked outside..."
"Can I have a pack of Camels please?"

The last one addressed to a tobacconist and not to someone in the Souk.

 

[Johann Koeber]

Not being a native speaker, I would offer my help anyways.

Models S.

"There were 3 Models S in the parking lot."

 

[doug]

Without checking my Google branded search engine, I would say you could say "Models S" but it would sound rather archaic.

Again, my academic style guide biased opinion is to write the plural as Model Ss (no apostrophe needed since the S is uppercase) and similarly Model Xs, which of course you pronounce as Model Ses and Model Xes, respectively. Just like in the future you may talk about Model Ts and Model Rs.

 

[NigelM]

Just like in the future you may talk about Model Ts and Model Rs.

Henry Ford got the first one; though as far as "Model R" is concerned do you know something we don't?

 

[doug]

Henry Ford got the first one; though as far as "Model R" is concerned do you know something we don't?

I guess you're relatively new here. After what we had called Whitestar was officially named Model S, it was speculated (perhaps jokingly) that Bluestar and the next-gen Roadster would be be named Model T and Model R, respectively.

 

[NigelM]

^ Ah, that explains some. My guess is that T, U, V and W were iterations that didn't make it.....

 

[Lloyd]

Model S's or Model Esses. Model S' would only be used if Model S was in itself plural, it is the plural possessive. Here's a fun infographic: How To Use An Apostrophe - The Oatmeal

Make sure you say it correctly in a Hispanic neighborhood

http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=esse

example: Ave U seen mi Esse?

 

[dsm363]

There was a Ford Model S as well.
Ford Model N - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia