Discussion Forum (Archived)
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I'm from Cape Cod, and all my life I've thought that the plural of roof is rooves. My wife is from the Midwest and thought this was plain wrong, but I did manage to locate some old dictionaries that contain an entry for rooves along with the pronunciation that I use (r-ooh-ves). I'm wondering whether anyone from the Northeast uses the same spelling and pronunciation, or if it is outdated everywhere in the United States. I have also always thought of the plural of hoof as hooves, and I'm pretty certain that I grew up hearing it this way.
You are not going crazy. I remember rooves as well, but the regular plural is winning out.
Merriam-Webster online rooves
As for hoof and hooves, most dictionaries still list hooves as the plural with hoofs as an also-ran.
I also like shelf, shelves; elf, elves; self, selves; thief, thieves. But chief, chiefs.
I guess there is Midwest (OH, IN, IL) and Midwest (Ozark hills, etc), and I, from the latter, use the irregular forms mentioned above.
Paul Harvey was from only about 200 miles away, but I could never get used to him "having proved" something. I am firmly located in the "have proven" camp.
And, my horse's hooves are unshod.
Martha Barnette
Grant Barrett
Grant Barrett
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