Merriam Webster weighs in on Lotus Plural - LotusTalk

JoshS · 08-09-2008, 07:14 AM

We are having a discussion on a automobile forum as to the correct spelling for the plural of Lotus. Some of us use Lotus, some use Lotuses, 3 use Loti. Lotus is an British car manufacturer. The founder asked that the plural be Lotus. A recent letter from the factory states they wish the plural to be Lotus. Some of us say it doesn't matter what they want, it has to do with the accepted spelling of Lotus and not it's meaning. Which is the correct spelling?

Sincerely,
Josh Schreider

We do not usually enter regular plurals in our dictionary, only irregular
ones like "fish" or "foci." "Lotuses" is the generally accepted plural of
"lotus," so I would say that it should also be applied to the car.
Furthermore, it doesn't seem awkward to say "We both own Lotuses," as one
would say "We both own Fords," which means it wouldn't catch too many
people's attention as being wrong.

Sincerely,
Benjamin Korzec
Associate Editor

Of course Tim still won't except this. I have a letter from the Italian president saying we should spell Venice, Venezia like they do. So should we also change that? If you go back and read my posts, this is what I said, it has to do with usage over the years, (catch too many people's attention). If we all used Lotus, yes then Webster would put in a footnote as being acceptable. Even if it's a totally made up word with a made up plural, if enough people change the plural OR continually spell it in a different manor that becomes an accepted variation.

Trainwreck · 08-09-2008, 07:20 AM

So- Lotuses is the correct plural...good to know. I probably would have gone with "Lotus" and made a complete fool of myself!!! Thank you for the educational info. I don't see how Tim can dispute it now...

JoshS · 08-09-2008, 07:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Trainwreck

I don't see how Tim can dispute it now...

Watch this!

Let's see I have to find the magic words... Double, double, toil and trouble, fire burn and caldron bubble. Lotus schmotus, dominotus, come forward, come forward and eat some Crowtus. We implore you, oh, Tim the Great, Tim the all Seeing, Tim the all Knowing, Tim the all Hearing, Tim the impotent...I mean the Omnipotent. Come out of from the bowels of the Forum and give us your latest Lotus, proposterous plural pontification.

BatmobileS240 · 08-09-2008, 08:06 AM

DeanG · 08-09-2008, 08:09 AM

There were lots of Lotus at LOG.

carlover · 08-09-2008, 08:13 AM

I feel like I'm reading news from The Onion.

kestrel74 · 08-09-2008, 08:55 AM

The Onion Movie was great ( even though I don't eat them )

Patricko · 08-09-2008, 08:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JoshS

The founder asked that the plural be Lotus. A recent letter from the factory states they wish the plural to be Lotus.

I stopped reading there

SweetDaddyD · 08-09-2008, 09:03 AM

Who ya gonna listen to? An associate editor at Webster, or Colin Chapman.

If I would thought about it I would of asked Clive Chapman at Log 28. lol.

Actually I don't really care that much, but i am entertained by the debate about it.

I like Loti myself, but usually say Lotus. As in: "At LOG 28 over 200 Lotus cars were present"

BatmobileS240 · 08-09-2008, 09:07 AM

In your statement, Lotus had to be singular since you pluralized "cars"

You could, however, say, "At LOG 28 over 200 Lotus were present."

Quote:

Originally Posted by SweetDaddyD

Who ya gonna listen to? An associate editor at Webster, or Colin Chapman.

If I would thought about it I would of asked Clive Chapman at Log 28. lol.

Actually I don't really care that much, but i am entertained by the debate about it.

I like Loti myself, but usually say Lotus. As in: "At LOG 28 over 200 Lotus cars were present"

Joecooool · 08-09-2008, 09:09 AM

I'll just stick to calling them cars.

mopho · 08-09-2008, 09:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JoshS

Watch this!

Let's see I have to find the magic words... Double, double, toil and trouble, fire burn and caldron bubble. Lotus schmotus, dominotus, come forward, come forward and eat some Crowtus. We implore you, oh, Tim the Great, Tim the all Seeing, Tim the all Knowing, Tim the all Hearing, Tim the impotent...I mean the Omnipotent. Come out of from the bowels of the Forum and give us your latest Lotus, proposterous plural pontification.

Wrong approach. Try this:
Touring wheels!

There, that should do it

...m... · 08-09-2008, 09:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by noobified

In your statement, Lotus had to be singular since you pluralized "cars"

...actually, it's neither and conveniently sidesteps the issue entirely by using lotus as an adjective rather than as a noun...

nvrblu · 08-09-2008, 09:32 AM

I've seen "Lotuses" used in the magazine from Lotus. I personally prefer "Lotus cars".

ivan1 · 08-09-2008, 09:36 AM

Another silly argument between two sides trying to decide which has the larger peni

knucklehead · 08-09-2008, 09:51 AM

I have to agree with Tim and Patricko. It's the difference between what is the standard practice and what is correct. Webster seems to have there head up their arses or is it arse?

mopho · 08-09-2008, 10:03 AM

Well what is correct? I would guess that Lotus wants it said one way because it is about branding and name recognition, but that doesn't necessarily mean they get supersede proper english.

Lotus cars =

Lotuses =

Loti =

Cardinal · 08-09-2008, 10:06 AM

Tim is too smart to fall into this trap.

rb26dett · 08-09-2008, 10:09 AM

who cares...let's see more pics of Madisyn.

knucklehead · 08-09-2008, 10:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mopho

Well what is correct? I would guess that Lotus wants it said one way because it is about branding and name recognition, but that doesn't necessarily mean they get supersede proper english.

Lotus cars =

Lotuses =

Loti =

I don't think it supersedes proper English. There is certainly precedent of words being the same for both singular and plural uses.

Look at the deer grazing on my front yard.
This sentence could mean both a single deer or a herd of deer in the yard.

08-09-2008, 07:14 AM	#1 (permalink)
JoshS Come on down Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Rancho Cucamonga, CA Posts: 2,098	Merriam Webster weighs in on Lotus Plural We are having a discussion on a automobile forum as to the correct spelling for the plural of Lotus. Some of us use Lotus, some use Lotuses, 3 use Loti. Lotus is an British car manufacturer. The founder asked that the plural be Lotus. A recent letter from the factory states they wish the plural to be Lotus. Some of us say it doesn't matter what they want, it has to do with the accepted spelling of Lotus and not it's meaning. Which is the correct spelling? Sincerely, Josh Schreider We do not usually enter regular plurals in our dictionary, only irregular ones like "fish" or "foci." "Lotuses" is the generally accepted plural of "lotus," so I would say that it should also be applied to the car. Furthermore, it doesn't seem awkward to say "We both own Lotuses," as one would say "We both own Fords," which means it wouldn't catch too many people's attention as being wrong. Sincerely, Benjamin Korzec Associate Editor Of course Tim still won't except this. I have a letter from the Italian president saying we should spell Venice, Venezia like they do. So should we also change that? If you go back and read my posts, this is what I said, it has to do with usage over the years, (catch too many people's attention). If we all used Lotus, yes then Webster would put in a footnote as being acceptable. Even if it's a totally made up word with a made up plural, if enough people change the plural OR continually spell it in a different manor that becomes an accepted variation. __________________ '06 Elise Phantom Black, Touring, Starshield, Powder Coated Black Wheels, Bobble head IMUS

08-09-2008, 07:20 AM	#2 (permalink)
Trainwreck The lil engine that could Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Mesa AZ Posts: 1,524	So- Lotuses is the correct plural...good to know. I probably would have gone with "Lotus" and made a complete fool of myself!!! Thank you for the educational info. I don't see how Tim can dispute it now... __________________ Women who behave rarely make history!!! Katherine

08-09-2008, 08:06 AM	#4 (permalink)
BatmobileS240 Registered User Join Date: May 2008 Location: Bay Area, CA Posts: 566	__________________ 2008 Exige S240 Storm Titanium for Sale!

08-09-2008, 08:55 AM	#7 (permalink)
kestrel74 G-200 Driver Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: North of Detroit; Watkins Glen, NY Posts: 10,774	The Onion Movie was great ( even though I don't eat them ) __________________ Elise #2292 / CO / Starshield / Nitron Sport SA / RTDbrace / Uprights machined / Down Low rails / DBA 4000 Wiper Slot Rotors/ V1 / SS lines w/Pagid Black / G-Pan / Odyssey PC680 with RLS Bracket / Difflow 5 Element diffuser / Stebel Nautilus horn "My daily driver does .85 Mach" " I started flying when Sex was safe and Hang Gliding was dangerous "

08-09-2008, 09:32 AM	#14 (permalink)
nvrblu ... _ . ..._ . Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Mesa, AZ Posts: 3,393	I've seen "Lotuses" used in the magazine from Lotus. I personally prefer "Lotus cars". __________________ Steve -- '05 Laser Blue, Biscuit, Sport/Touring, Starshield

08-09-2008, 08:09 AM	#5 (permalink)
DeanG Registered User Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 1,364	There were lots of Lotus at LOG.

08-09-2008, 08:13 AM	#6 (permalink)
carlover できそこないの傲慢嫌い Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Bristol, TN Posts: 1,380	I feel like I'm reading news from The Onion.

08-09-2008, 09:03 AM	#9 (permalink)
SweetDaddyD BANNED Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: ATL, GA Posts: 7,592 Images: 2	Who ya gonna listen to? An associate editor at Webster, or Colin Chapman. If I would thought about it I would of asked Clive Chapman at Log 28. lol. Actually I don't really care that much, but i am entertained by the debate about it. I like Loti myself, but usually say Lotus. As in: "At LOG 28 over 200 Lotus cars were present"

08-09-2008, 09:09 AM	#11 (permalink)
Joecooool Juvenile Delinquent Join Date: May 2004 Location: Duck Key Florida Posts: 755	I'll just stick to calling them cars.

08-09-2008, 09:36 AM	#15 (permalink)
ivan1 Registered User Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Bedford, NY Posts: 6,299	Another silly argument between two sides trying to decide which has the larger peni __________________ 2011 M3 convertible Previous car #2 - 2008 Elise SC Ardent Red - Touring, Sport, Starshield (found a new home) Previous car #1 - 2005 Elise Saffron Yellow (totaled in flood- the original underwater elise)

08-09-2008, 09:51 AM	#16 (permalink)
knucklehead TWRD & Blip advertising Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Bend, OR Posts: 3,955	I have to agree with Tim and Patricko. It's the difference between what is the standard practice and what is correct. Webster seems to have there head up their arses or is it arse?

08-09-2008, 10:03 AM	#17 (permalink)
mopho goofn' with the bees Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: out of a suitcase- my stuff lives in LA Posts: 5,696	Well what is correct? I would guess that Lotus wants it said one way because it is about branding and name recognition, but that doesn't necessarily mean they get supersede proper english. Lotus cars = Lotuses = Loti = __________________ ________________ 2004 Caterham 7 Superlight R - 67 Lotus Elan (sold) www.morgansegal.com

08-09-2008, 10:06 AM	#18 (permalink)
Cardinal Ex and future Lotus owner Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Metro North Boston Posts: 4,713 Images: 14	Tim is too smart to fall into this trap. __________________ the1sen: why move forward with design when you can recreate a monstrosity from the past? FIL: Have you ever heard of a threesome? I know its her sister, but they are Swedish. That $hit is totally accepted over there.

08-09-2008, 10:09 AM	#19 (permalink)
rb26dett Registered User Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 179	who cares...let's see more pics of Madisyn.

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