*[from William Shakespeare's play Romeo and Juliet]


http://flyingfishhovercraft.co.uk/bl...overcraft.aspx

http://www.usingenglish.com/poll/630.html

"The plural is aircraft, hovercraft, space craft. But carpentry and weaving are crafts. Same word, different meanings, different plurals".

One can easily blame it on the likes of iPhones and masses of people losing the ability to communicate by using properly grammatic language [instinctively pointing like an infant instead of using more complex learned behaviour which also involves using the front of their brains, which is required for what is termed "reasoning"].


L

http://www.wordhippo.com/what-is/the...overcraft.html
http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dict...ish/hovercraft (note hovercrafts is given first and that is usually the preferred version)

So take your pick of differing "experts"....or just don't be so picky .

Steve

Originally Posted by slipstick

http://www.wordhippo.com/what-is/the...overcraft.html
http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dict...ish/hovercraft (note hovercrafts is given first and that is usually the preferred version)

So take your pick of differing "experts"....or just don't be so picky .

Steve

If you Google: "us military hovercrafts maneuvers marines" and ALSO "us military hovercraft maneuvers marines" .... you will find that more technical, erudite, scientific or military responses use "hovercraft", NOT "hovercrafts".

It is called "the rule of common usage" [the Latin for "common" is "vulgar"].

Anyone who wants to sound like a common uneducated person [I was tempted to write "idiot"] is allowed to in a free country >

"stupidity is it's own reward".


Lee

The hovercraft was invented by an Englishman. And when it comes to the correct use of the English language I'll take the Cambridge University Press over the US military every time. E.g. the correct spelling of "maneuvers" is manoeuvres .

But as you correctly suggest in a free country, like America for example, there are many who are willing to sound like "common uneducated persons". Good luck to you all .

But language pedantry isn't really on topic here so I'll leave you to amuse yourself now.

Steve

Originally Posted by slipstick

... The hovercraft was invented by an Englishman. And when it comes to the correct use of the English language I'll take the Cambridge University Press over the US military every time. E.g. the correct spelling of "maneuvers" is manoeuvres ; ....).

Steve

It is correct in UK English, and understandable but technically not correct on a US-based website. Although educated as a physicist & engineer, one of my first jobs was as a technical writer for General Dynamics for large corporate projects; while you may be comfortable with "hovercrafts", my training and experience prompted me to annoy others as the title of this forum rankles my sensibilities. And sense.

But the invention and use of skirts was an important breakthrough with which the US Marines would surely agree, as they get it on the sand [innuendos intended].

Lee

from AP:


"....The Sina 7 is reportedly capable of firing anti-ship missiles, which the Iranian government says is a centerpiece of its new defense strategy.

Two repaired hovercraft vehicles were also showcased during the broadcast.


The Iranian Navy's new blue submarine (AP) >