LETTERS TO THE EDITOR: MORE ABOUT PLURAL, SINGULAR

To the Editor:

I deeply appreciate Associate Judge William Hopkins' Sept. 20 detailed exposition regarding an example I used in my last column about the use of "each chambers" and "one chambers." I assumed my suggestion that "each of the chambers" and "one of the chambers" would sufficiently explain my position. Obviously, I should have added "each chambers" and "one chambers" offended my sensitive ear. Writers on usage have long exercised this privilege in assessing acceptable construction.

However, I feel it my duty to the cause of singulars and plurals to repeat a point I made years ago about one word Judge Hopkins used in his list of singular words ending in "s." "Trousers" is singular at the top, but plural at the bottom.

AILEEN LORBERG

Cape Girardeau