Posted by Jill/NY on 10/11/08 7:13pm
Msg #267046

Notary Publics or Notaries Public?

Which is the correct plural form please?

Reply by Helen Gill on 10/11/08 7:25pm
Msg #267050

I believe it would be Notary Publics'

Reply by JanetLA on 10/11/08 7:47pm
Msg #267054

I always thought it was notaries public. Not sure though n/m

Reply by Marian_in_CA on 10/11/08 7:56pm
Msg #267057

You're correct, Janet. It is 'Notaries Public'. n/m

Reply by LKT/CA on 10/11/08 7:52pm
Msg #267055

Notaries Public is correct n/m

Reply by Marian_in_CA on 10/11/08 7:54pm
Msg #267056

My English Major Opinion: Notaries Public (boring grammar)

"Public" is an adjective in this case and can't be plural. There is no such thing as a plural adjective in English. In other languages such as French and Portuguese? Yes. But not English.

However, lots of people (and even some state offices) spell it the other way because they treat the entire title of the office as a single entity. The problem is really quite common because the title of 'Notary Public' itself is uncommon in standard English usage. Rarely does the adjective follow the noun in English. It's common in other languages, just not English. Because of that, people tend to treat the entire title as a noun. Also, the word 'public' can be confusing because it can serve as a noun or an adjective depending on the context. Because of those two things, using the term "Notary Publics" is really a common error.

But ALSO, think about it... where in the English Language is "public" ever plural by the addition of the letter 's'? Public is both plural and singular, much like 'deer' or 'sheep'. The only time the letter 's' should follow the word 'public' is in the possessive form -- and even then its use can be questionable.


So there you have it... at least two... maybe three reasons why the answer is "Notaries Public" and not "Notary Publics".

Reply by Helen Gill on 10/11/08 8:02pm
Msg #267058

Re: My English Major Opinion: Notaries Public (boring grammar)

Thank you, I appreciate the educational lesson. I mean that from my heart. We ought to learn something new every day. Have a wonderful evening everyone.

Reply by Marian_in_CA on 10/11/08 8:09pm
Msg #267060

Re: My English Major Opinion: Notaries Public (boring grammar)

You're welcome Helen. Normally, I'm not the best grammarian myself. I know the rules, I just get lazy. I break them all the time. But every once in awhile the little nagging voice gets the best of me, especially when it comes to some things I see abused all the time.

Like the use of the word "loose" instead of "lose".

The intermingling of 'there', 'they're' and 'their' ... and 'your' vs. 'you're'.

Okay, I'll stop now! Hee.

Reply by JanetK_CA on 10/11/08 11:30pm
Msg #267080

Re: My English Major Opinion: Notaries Public (boring grammar)

Don't feel bad. There have been a number of threads here over the years about pet peeves related to common grammatical mistakes and spelling errors - and proper use of other verbiage related to our business. One common theme has been "notarizing" vs. "doing a notary". I'll leave it at that...

Reply by BarbaraL_CA on 10/13/08 11:39pm
Msg #267220

Re: My English Major Opinion: Notaries Public (boring grammar)

You explained that very well. I was going to explain it as the adjective/noun scenario, but after reading your explanation I couldn't have said it better!

By the way... I know it's Notaries Public but it would make more sense to say Public Notaries

Reply by MikeC/NY on 10/11/08 8:12pm
Msg #267061

Both have been used, but the correct form is "notaries public" - "notary" is the noun, "public" is the adjective, and you pluralize the noun rather than the adjective.

Same thing with "attorney general" - the correct plural form is "attorneys general", not "attorney generals", for the same reason...

Reply by Jill/NY on 10/11/08 8:23pm
Msg #267064

Thanks all. Thats what I thought. How are hyou ike? Have'nt heard from you in a while. Are you still getting work from the lawyers office?

Reply by Rachel/ORWA on 10/11/08 10:04pm
Msg #267075

Same with 'sisters-in-law' etc.

I love English grammar. It's so delightfully convoluted.

Reply by Jack Tri on 10/11/08 9:14pm
Msg #267070

When you do a deed in California it's Your name, Notary Public
or county won't record it.

Reply by Hugh Nations Signing Agents of Austin on 10/11/08 11:47pm
Msg #267082

Pluralize the noun, not the adjective or adjectival phrase.

Brother(s)-in-law

Attorney(ies)-at-law

Nom(s) de guerre

Reply by PAW on 10/12/08 7:28am
Msg #267086

Agreed. Other terms often improperly pluralized are:

Power of Attorney --> Powers of Attorney
Attorney General --> Attorneys General

BTW, the plural of attorney is attorneys, as in attorneys-at-law.

Reply by BrendaTx on 10/12/08 7:29am
Msg #267087

Attornies? n/m

Reply by BrendaTx on 10/12/08 7:30am
Msg #267088

Didn't see that Paul had responded one min. before. :) n/m

Reply by Hugh Nations Signing Agents of Austin on 10/12/08 8:13am
Msg #267092

Re: Attornies?

***Attornies?***

Certainly. Why do you have a problem with that? Plural of hey = hies. Superplural of the plural they = thies. Singular of rabies = rabey.

New rule: Never post when you are simultaneously trying to pay attention to a platinum blonde girlfriend, a Chihuahua, and two loose parakeets who need a wing clipping.

Reply by BrendaTx on 10/12/08 9:22am
Msg #267097

Re: Attornies?

*a Chihuahua*

You're surely lying.

A good Chihuahua wouldn't put up with the division of attention you've just described. A human exists only to make a lap for a Chihuahua to curl up in. . .and they only abide certain laps and will quickly discard the rest...from the ankle up. Does the blonde still have feet?

Reply by Hugh Nations Signing Agents of Austin on 10/12/08 9:44am
Msg #267098

Re: Attornies?

***Does the blonde still have feet?***

I haven't noticed. My attention has been elsewhere.

Reply by LynnNC on 10/12/08 1:22pm
Msg #267105

The word *attornies* was not in the 3 dictionaries...

... that I checked.

Dictionary.com: http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/attornies
Merriam-Webster:
Cambridge Advanced Learhttp://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/attorniesners Dictionary: http://dictionary.cambridge.org/results.asp?searchword=attornies&x=43&y=8

When I googled for the word *attornies* some listings came up, but, when I went to the website, the word was spelled as "attorneys".

Reply by Hugh Nations Signing Agents of Austin on 10/12/08 7:54pm
Msg #267124

Re: The word *attornies* was not in the 3 dictionaries...

***The word *attornies* was not in the 3 dictionaries that I checked.***

Dictionary of Innovative & Creative Contemporary English Language. Rancid House Publishing, 2019:

Attornies: Derivative of "attorn," to agree to remain as a tenant after transfer of property ownership. "Attornies" refers to the leg joints between the calves and the thighs of one who attorns.