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Makes And Models => Zero Motorcycles Forum | 2013+ => Topic started by: Doug S on September 12, 2014, 09:12:50 PM

Title: Pedantic grammatical question
Post by: Doug S on September 12, 2014, 09:12:50 PM
Okay, obviously "Zero's" is the correct possessive form of "Zero", as in "Zero's got new models coming out soon" or "My Zero's got an 11.4kWh battery", but what is the proper plural of "Zero"?

Zeroes? I THINK technically this is correct but it seems weird. "I have three friends who ride Zeroes." Just looks funny to me.

Zero's? I'm pretty sure it's wrong but it looks so, so right.

Zeros? This one may also be technically correct.

It may also be defined by the company, since it's a proper noun. What do you guys think? I suppose I'd have to cast my vote with "Zeroes", "Zeros" being a close second.
Title: Re: Pedantic grammatical question
Post by: trikester on September 12, 2014, 09:33:07 PM
I vote for Zeros, only because I think it looks better with the proper noun. Zero's is definitely possessive form.

Trikester
Title: Re: Pedantic grammatical question
Post by: Brammofan on September 12, 2014, 10:01:21 PM
I love shit like this.  :D

Zeros or zeroes are both accepted plural forms, depending on your source. The Oxford English Dictionary has zeroes as the only acceptable plural form, but Merriam Webster says both are acceptable. Some people prefer zeroes because Zeros looks like a Greek singular that might be pronounced zeh-ros (rhymes with gyros) but I think Zeros works better.

If you were describing the sound of two Zeros going down the street, if might look like this: The two Zeros' whine was in stark contrast to the two Harleys' rumbling. 

Similarly, the plural of Brammo is most definitely Brammos. Not Brammoes.

That's my opinion, anyway.

Oh, and Zero's as a plural is just plain wrong.
Title: Re: Pedantic grammatical question
Post by: protomech on September 12, 2014, 10:14:23 PM
I agree with Zeros, or Brammos.

If you were talking about the specific bike, then you might say Brammo Empulses. I dislike the various options for "multiple Zero S": Zero Ss, Zero S's, Zero S. You can avoid this by just saying "Zero S bikes".

"At National Plug-In Day there were five Zero S bikes out on the lawn"
Title: Re: Pedantic grammatical question
Post by: BSDThw on September 12, 2014, 11:42:33 PM
As a non-native speaker it is really fun to follow this. I do like the ... bikes idea.
BTW with my historical background I should never use the
Quote
Zero Ss,..
form.
Title: Re: Pedantic grammatical question
Post by: Brammofan on September 13, 2014, 12:31:28 AM
As a non-native speaker it is really fun to follow this. I do like the ... bikes idea.
BTW with my historical background I should never use the
Quote
Zero Ss,..
form.

 ;D Just guessing that you're German.
Title: Re: Pedantic grammatical question
Post by: dkw12002 on September 13, 2014, 08:31:31 AM
Did you know that that "that" that that boy wrote looked like "they"?
Title: Re: Pedantic grammatical question
Post by: NanoMech on September 13, 2014, 10:52:43 PM
A gf offered this unusual perspective about the name:

I, too, "love shit like this."  And that respondent, unsurprisingly, had the spot-on, most articulate and correct answers.  However, as a marketing angle, I'd encourage the use of "Zeros" for the plural form (even though I think it's more commonly written in the plural form as "zeroes" when speaking of numerals).  Not only would "Zeros" strengthen (somewhat) its trademark distinction, but it suggests the oh-so-ubiquitous-in-the-world-of-wheeled-vehicles-with-engines subliminal association with sex:  "Z" + "eros."  Of course, the subliminal message would probably register with only fans of greek mythology; but, hey, niche marketing has its place. :-*
Title: Re: Pedantic grammatical question
Post by: Doug S on September 14, 2014, 04:57:25 AM
I'm definitely down with "Zeros". It seems less pretentious than "Zeroes", and that's always a good thing. And I don't really care if the OED doesn't like it -- I don't speak English, I speak 'Murican.
Title: Re: Pedantic grammatical question
Post by: BSDThw on September 14, 2014, 02:22:53 PM
I had to look for "Murican"

Quote
http://de.urbandictionary.com
An impolite way of saying "American" (or a polite way of saying "Americunt") while wanting to project a sense to dislike towards that country and its inhabitants.
You dislike you country and mother tongue  ::) (just teasing)
Title: Re: Pedantic grammatical question
Post by: trikester on September 14, 2014, 08:09:57 PM
England and the United States are "two countries separated by a common language".

Trikester
Title: Re: Pedantic grammatical question
Post by: NoiseBoy on September 15, 2014, 05:46:33 PM
Common language? You colonials have raped our language! Raped I say!
Title: Re: Pedantic grammatical question
Post by: trikester on September 15, 2014, 08:12:43 PM
Balderdash!

Trikester