Mothers-in-Law vs. Mother-in-Laws

Hello, you have A Way with Words.

Hi, this is Louise. I’m in Rancho Bernardo, a suburb of San Diego.

Hi, Louise. Welcome to the program.

Thank you.

What can we do for you?

Well, I have a complaint.

Did we say something wrong?

Let me transfer you to the right department.

Is your subscription not arriving every week?

Oh, it’s on time every week.

Okay, good, good. All right, well, what is your complaint, Louise?

My complaint is that people who otherwise appear to be professional and literate will come up occasionally in print with a term like mother-in-laws or brother-in-laws or sister-in-laws. And that just rubs me the wrong way.

It rubs you the wrong way.

So they should be saying mothers-in-law or brothers-in-law or sons-in-law instead, right?

You got it.

They’re pluralizing the wrong word.

Yes, what’s the matter?

Well, Louise, let me ask you, how come you’re so sure?

I don’t know, because it just looks like it makes sense.

To say mother’s-in-law?

Yes.

Well, you know what? You’re right.

Well, you know, if you say mother-in-laws, I get a mental picture of this woman in a cap and gown and a diploma coming along wrapped in scrolls of laws. It doesn’t look right to me until he says mothers.

With the blindfold and the balance hanging from her hand?

Right.

Oh, boy, what a mental picture.

So what do you picture when you picture mothers-in-law?

Oh, she’s a nice lady.

Of course she is.

And there’s several of them.

Mothers-in-law.

Yes.

I have friends who are mothers-in-law and brothers-in-law.

Etc.

Are any of them attorneys at law or sergeants at arms?

That’s right.

Are any of them attorneys general?

Are any of them poet’s laureate?

Not yet.

Even better.

Are any of the secretaries of the interior?

But you’re right on the money, Louise.

It’s important to pluralize the first word in these compounds.

So mothers-in-law and sons-in-law and brothers-in-law, that’s the correct way to do it.

That’s wonderful to know, so that I can continue to bang on my desk.

Yes.

We all have to have something that keeps us awake in the morning, right?

That’s right.

Well, this was better than coffee.

Oh, it’ll wake me up right away.

All right. Thank you so much for calling, Louise.

All right. Congratulations. You’re right.

Take care.

All right. Bye-bye.

Bye.

What has you pounding your fist on the desk?

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