Help with plural of a group nickname.

starrystorm · Jun 21, 2019

So in my world there are 3 groups of people based off different types of puppets. Marionettes, stick-and-rod, and Ventriloquist dummies. Each of them have a nickname (puppet, rod, dummy). Yes, I know dummy seems strange but I couldn't think of anything else. When plotting this story I've run into a problem--How would I write the plural of dummy? Would they be dummies or dummys? Since dummy is not an official name and only a nickname I'm betting on dummies, but I would like to have a second opinion.

Maryn · Jun 21, 2019

I'd pluralize it dummies. Merriam Webster seems to agree with me.

cornflake · Jun 21, 2019

starrystorm said:
So in my world there are 3 groups of people based off different types of puppets. Marionettes, stick-and-rod, and Ventriloquist dummies. Each of them have a nickname (puppet, rod, dummy). Yes, I know dummy seems strange but I couldn't think of anything else. When plotting this story I've run into a problem--How would I write the plural of dummy? Would they be dummies or dummys? Since dummy is not an official name and only a nickname I'm betting on dummies, but I would like to have a second opinion.

It is, as Maryn said, dummies.

When a word that ends in y has a consonant before the y, it pluralizes with ies; when there's a vowel before, as in monkey, you just add an s -- monkeys.

mrsmig · Jun 22, 2019

Double-check your terminology. When you say "stick-and-rod," are you referring to rod puppets like the Indonesian shadow puppets, which are generally two-dimensional, articulated puppets mounted on sticks? Or do you mean "hand-and-rod," such as Kermit the Frog, who is operated by a human hand for the body and mouth, and a rod or combination of rods for the limbs?

And just FYI, ventriloquist dummies are called "dummies" not because they're stupid, but because they are mute - the ventriloquist provides the voice.

:: Donna, who used to be a professional puppeteer although not a ventriloquist ::

starrystorm · Jun 22, 2019

mrsmig said:
Double-check your terminology. When you say "stick-and-rod," are you referring to rod puppets like the Indonesian shadow puppets, which are generally two-dimensional, articulated puppets mounted on sticks? Or do you mean "hand-and-rod," such as Kermit the Frog, who is operated by a human hand for the body and mouth, and a rod or combination of rods for the limbs?

And just FYI, ventriloquist dummies are called "dummies" not because they're stupid, but because they are mute - the ventriloquist provides the voice.

:: Donna, who used to be a professional puppeteer although not a ventriloquist ::

Wow, this is great. By the rods, I mean the puppets that have rods attached to their wrists and someone behind a stage moves their arms. I guess that would mean hand-and-rod. Thanks for the life-saver

Help with plural of a group nickname.

starrystorm

Maryn

At Sea

cornflake

practical experience, FTW

mrsmig

Write. Write. Writey Write Write.

starrystorm