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Plural of mouse (not the animal)
<To be fair though, a lot of those pages were about which one is the correct plural. >
!! You read most of the 11 million plus pages? Now we've had Josh's descriptive approach to this question, what would be his prescriptive advice? What should ESL/EFL students use, mouses or mice?
I am a computer teacher and refer to them in plural as "mouse devices".
<I am a computer teacher and refer to them in plural as "mouse devices". >
Why?
<<<I am a computer teacher and refer to them in plural as "mouse devices". >>
That's so wrong. [note from moderator: originally posted as Travis]
I would personally say "mouses" for the computer device. I would save "mice" for the animal.
My guess here is that it's not written in stone which one to use.
The above "Travis" was not me, but I do agree with what they said about mouses.
Der obene "Travis" war mich nicht, aber ich stimme zu, womit sie über Mäuse gesagt haben.
I assumed it wasn't you, Trav, since it didn't sound like something you would say. Too short and WAY too straightforward....just kidding! ;P
Das sollte "war ich nicht" oben sein. Man sollte verstehen, dass meine Muttersprache Deutsch davon nicht ist.
<My guess here is that it's not written in stone which one to use. >
As with much English, but prescritivists here still insist on certain forms.
Hey, I'm a prescriptivist about lots of things. Others not so much. I just don't think "computer mouse' has been around long enough to get "official" treatment. So it's still fluid.
<Hey, I'm a prescriptivist about lots of things. Others not so much. I just don't think "computer mouse' has been around long enough to get "official" treatment. So it's still fluid. >
Try going to your local PC store and ask for "mouses".
Customer: Excuse me, where are the mouses located?
Computer store employee: They re at the back of the store. Customer: Excuse me, where are the mice located? Computer store employee: I hope there are no mice here, this is a new building so there shouldnt be any mice here. |