Google
English-Test.net
Find penpals and make new friends today!
 
to go regularly to (a certain place); to patronize
paint
frequent
initial
divide
TOEIC vocab test: Free word games: Online Verbs Quiz Answer
 
Username
Password
 Remember me? 
Search   FAQ   Memberlist   Profile   Private messages   Register   Log in 

OSs vs OSes


Goto page 1, 2  Next
 
ESL/EFL Worksheets and Handouts for Students Printable, photocopiable, clearly structured
Designed for teachers and individual learners
For use in a classroom, at home, on your PC
ESL Forums | English Vocabulary, Grammar and Idioms
Talk vs Speak | adverbs of Frequency
Listening exercises
Message
Author
OSs vs OSes #1 (permalink) Fri Jun 06, 2008 8:24 am   OSs vs OSes
 

Hi everybody!

I'm reading a technical literature now, and there are a lot of OSs (operating systemS) in this book and I was sure it is correct. I mean not OSes but OSs.

But in process of reading I find ASes (autonomous systemS) in this book. What is it? Mistake?

Can you explain why OSs but not OSes (or other way).
Vishnya
I'm new here and I like it ;-)


Joined: 06 Mar 2007
Posts: 44

OSs vs OSes #2 (permalink) Fri Jun 06, 2008 8:29 am   OSs vs OSes
 

I think OSes would be better.
Haihao
I'm a Communicator ;-)


Joined: 26 Oct 2006
Posts: 1392
Location: Japan

Start exploring the English language today! Subscribe to free email English courseEnglish grammar exercises — improve your English knowledge and vocabulary skillsAre you a native speaker of English? Then you should read this!Learn some cool expressions in the following cool story
OSs vs OSes #3 (permalink) Fri Jun 06, 2008 9:11 am   OSs vs OSes
 

I don't think so, cause I've never seen OSes. If you write OSes, does it mean that is operating systemES? But if you sure give me an explanation please.
Vishnya
I'm new here and I like it ;-)


Joined: 06 Mar 2007
Posts: 44

OSs vs OSes #4 (permalink) Fri Jun 06, 2008 9:41 am   OSs vs OSes
 

No, never systemes. OS is OS itself although it does mean Operating System. I suggest you take a google.
Haihao
I'm a Communicator ;-)


Joined: 26 Oct 2006
Posts: 1392
Location: Japan

OSs vs OSes #5 (permalink) Fri Jun 06, 2008 10:21 am   OSs vs OSes
 

I would prefer OSs. Sometimes people might use OS's as the plural, but I think it would be relatively rare to see OSes.

ASs, or AS's, but never ASes.
Jamie (K)
I'm a Communicator ;-)


Joined: 24 Feb 2006
Posts: 5332
Location: Detroit, Michigan, USA

OSs vs OSes #6 (permalink) Fri Jun 06, 2008 10:29 am   OSs vs OSes
 

Google says,

OSes 2,880,000
OS's 134,000,000 (Jamie's offer Smile )
But it seems to me OSs would go to another abbreviation: Open System Source.

I am not sure though.
Haihao
I'm a Communicator ;-)


Joined: 26 Oct 2006
Posts: 1392
Location: Japan

OSs vs OSes #7 (permalink) Fri Jun 06, 2008 11:52 am   OSs vs OSes
 

Quote:
But it seems to me OSs would go to another abbreviation: Open System Source.


Wouldn't that be OSS?
Molly
I'm a Communicator ;-)


Joined: 12 Feb 2008
Posts: 4017

OSs vs OSes #8 (permalink) Fri Jun 06, 2008 12:03 pm   OSs vs OSes
 

21,000 English pages for "mac OS's".
9,080 English pages for "mac OSs".

But:

42,600 English pages for "windows OS's".
98,500 English pages for "windows OSs".

And:

27,800 English pages for "linux OS's"
150,000 English pages for "linux OSs".

Hm...
Molly
I'm a Communicator ;-)


Joined: 12 Feb 2008
Posts: 4017

OSs vs OSes #9 (permalink) Fri Jun 06, 2008 12:11 pm   OSs vs OSes
 

.
It seems to me that someone who would write "OSes" would be someone who always says "OS" rather than "operating system" when speaking. The pronunciation of the plural form of "OS" would sound like "OSes". Thus a person who never actually says "operating systems" might tend to write the plural of "OS" the same way he/she pronounces it.
.
Yankee
I'm a Communicator ;-)


Joined: 16 Apr 2006
Posts: 8265
Location: USA

OSs vs OSes #10 (permalink) Fri Jun 06, 2008 12:35 pm   OSs vs OSes
 

Jamie (K) wrote:
I would prefer OSs. Sometimes people might use OS's as the plural, but I think it would be relatively rare to see OSes.

ASs, or AS's, but never ASes.


I fully agree with you.

Quote:
But it seems to me OSs would go to another abbreviation: Open System Source

As we are talking about technical literature I use Cisco press, Microsoft Manual of Style, and Microsoft Computer Dictionary (fifth edition) to know what does OS mean.

Microsoft Dictionary says: "OS n. See operating system." And then in Microsoft Manual of Style (version 3.0) we can read "To form the plural of an acronym, use a lowercase "s" without an apostrophe." Example: several IFSs.

So, I'm not fully confident about OSes or OSs, but I am fully confident that OSs is acronym of operating systems, but not an open source systems, cause open source software (not system, if you mean UNIX) is OSS but not OSs.
Smile
Vishnya
I'm new here and I like it ;-)


Joined: 06 Mar 2007
Posts: 44

OSs vs OSes #11 (permalink) Fri Jun 06, 2008 12:48 pm   OSs vs OSes
 

Quote:
It seems to me that someone who would write "OSes" would be someone who always says "OS" rather than "operating system" when speaking


I've read such an answer on the Internet, so it's colourable.
Vishnya
I'm new here and I like it ;-)


Joined: 06 Mar 2007
Posts: 44

OSs vs OSes #12 (permalink) Fri Jun 06, 2008 13:29 pm   OSs vs OSes
 

Vishnya wrote:
But in process of reading I find ASes (autonomous systemS) in this book. What is it? Mistake?
As regards writing the plural of 'AS' with an -es ending, perhaps the person simply didn't want to risk it being confused with the word 'ass'. Laughing
.
Yankee
I'm a Communicator ;-)


Joined: 16 Apr 2006
Posts: 8265
Location: USA

OSs vs OSes #13 (permalink) Fri Jun 06, 2008 13:39 pm   OSs vs OSes
 

Yankee wrote:
Vishnya wrote:
But in process of reading I find ASes (autonomous systemS) in this book. What is it? Mistake?
As regards writing the plural of 'AS' with an -es ending, perhaps the person simply didn't want to risk it being confused with the word 'ass'. Laughing
.


It's a weighty argument. Laughing
Vishnya
I'm new here and I like it ;-)


Joined: 06 Mar 2007
Posts: 44

OSs vs OSes #14 (permalink) Fri Jun 06, 2008 18:20 pm   OSs vs OSes
 

Molly wrote:
21,000 English pages for "mac OS's".
9,080 English pages for "mac OSs".

But:

42,600 English pages for "windows OS's".
98,500 English pages for "windows OSs".

And:

27,800 English pages for "linux OS's"
150,000 English pages for "linux OSs".

Hm...

You're not distinguishing plural from possessive.
Jamie (K)
I'm a Communicator ;-)


Joined: 24 Feb 2006
Posts: 5332
Location: Detroit, Michigan, USA

OSs vs OSes #15 (permalink) Fri Jun 06, 2008 22:56 pm   OSs vs OSes
 

Jamie (K) wrote:
Hm...

You're not distinguishing plural from possessive.

I know, but why are you doing so?
Molly
I'm a Communicator ;-)


Joined: 12 Feb 2008
Posts: 4017

Display posts from previous:   
Talk vs Speak | adverbs of Frequency
ESL Forums | English Vocabulary, Grammar and Idioms OSs vs OSes All times are GMT + 1 Hour
Goto page 1, 2  Next
Page 1 of 2
Latest topics on ESL EFL Forums
what does "prime example" mean?Usage of still (Do you still hungry? vs. Are you still hungry?)Sentences with comparisons - similar structure, but different treatment?the article discusses vs. are discussed in the articleMultiple choice questions: What's wrong? vs. What's matter?Adjective of quality - is the definition correct?Progressive TenseUsage of article: Nadal, is the King of Court Clay, Nobody has stopped from...Query (Rich as they are, I think they shouldn't do that.)Ricky Gervais 'rotant comic'?someone greasing next to me?data carrier checks vs. data media checks"sitting in on classes" as translation for German term 'Hospitation'?OSs vs OSes, page 2Use of definite article "the" in written form vs. spokenWhat kind of job vs. what kind of work?isn't and aren'tUsage of "twenty oh eight"Phrase "tired as a newt"OSs vs OSes

Discover English-test.net
I am Konstantin. From Russia with loveIdiom: until the cows come homeHave a nice new OR (new nice) weekend?Some more questions from 'The Jungle Book'What is the difference between 'come up with' and 'come out with'?TOEIC verbal test: Vocabulary Quiz: Verb ListsTOEIC practice test: Interactive word games: Free Online Verb GameDefine hesitate, finish, graduate, finalize, downsize, protectLevel e vocab: Noun verb activityFree ESL Quiz Online: Working WellPracticing English: Small Businesses

 
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum
Subscribe to FREE email English course
First name E-mail