TXMary2 Posted October 5, 2010 Share Posted October 5, 2010 Since when is it "acceptable" to spell the plural of hoof as hoofs? It seems ridiculous. I am asking because a friend whose son attends public school was sent home with a worksheet that said the plural of hoof was hoofs. Last we both checked it was still hooves, but apparently that has changed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
k2bdeutmeyer Posted October 5, 2010 Share Posted October 5, 2010 no way! really?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Teachin'Mine Posted October 5, 2010 Share Posted October 5, 2010 New math make room for new English. :lol: Maybe they'll even things out by making the plural of roof rooves. :D On edit: Wikipedia has both spellings for the plural of hoof. Who knew??? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Parrothead Posted October 5, 2010 Share Posted October 5, 2010 Well, I'm gobsmacked. According to freedictionary.com the plural of hoof can be hooves or hoofs. Hoofs Personally I'm sticking with hooves. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dandelion Posted October 5, 2010 Share Posted October 5, 2010 Correct spelling is in the eye of the beholder (teacher). All kidding aside, I've never seen it spelled "hoofs"... :001_huh: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TXMary2 Posted October 5, 2010 Author Share Posted October 5, 2010 Well, I'm gobsmacked. According to freedictionary.com the plural of hoof can be hooves or hoofs. Hoofs Personally I'm sticking with hooves. I am with you, it seems like it has become acceptable because so many were spelling it wrong anyway - so we may as well change it!! :thumbdown: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gooblink Posted October 5, 2010 Share Posted October 5, 2010 (edited) That's right. Hoofs and Hooves are both correct. ETA: I just looked it up in my copyright 1913 Websters and hoofs is listed, hooves is not. So...hoofs is not the new version. :) Edited October 5, 2010 by Gooblink Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LaissezFaire Posted October 5, 2010 Share Posted October 5, 2010 Yep, they are both correct. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Dulcimeramy Posted October 5, 2010 Share Posted October 5, 2010 Rod and Staff grade 5 teaches that "hoofs" and "hooves" are both correct. I was also quite surprised! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TXMary2 Posted October 5, 2010 Author Share Posted October 5, 2010 Rod and Staff grade 5 teaches that "hoofs" and "hooves" are both correct. I was also quite surprised! I am quite surprised. I have to say that I have NEVER heard of hoofs being used. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
~Kirsten~ Posted October 5, 2010 Share Posted October 5, 2010 You know, we just came across this in Caddie Woodlawn, and both my daughter and I were flummoxed! I had never before seen it spelled "hoofs," but I actually assumed it had to be correct, in a Newberry classic after all. :D My question is, does that spelling change how the word is pronounced? Or is it like the plural of roof? :001_huh: Correct spelling is in the eye of the beholder (teacher). All kidding aside, I've never seen it spelled "hoofs"... :001_huh: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lolly Posted October 5, 2010 Share Posted October 5, 2010 You know, we just came across this in Caddie Woodlawn, and both my daughter and I were flummoxed! I had never before seen it spelled "hoofs," but I actually assumed it had to be correct, in a Newberry classic after all. :D My question is, does that spelling change how the word is pronounced? Or is it like the plural of roof? :001_huh: Well, I use hoofs. I say it as it is spelled. :001_smile: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
regentrude Posted October 5, 2010 Share Posted October 5, 2010 According to my 1993 college dictionary both forms are correct. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NanceXToo Posted October 5, 2010 Share Posted October 5, 2010 I've never heard of hoofs being used either! Interesting! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Krista in LA Posted October 5, 2010 Share Posted October 5, 2010 My 1963 Winston Dictionary for Schools lists hoofs, or *rarely*, hooves. It seems that if a spelling has been accepted over time, it would be the hooves spelling. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gwenhwyfar Posted October 5, 2010 Share Posted October 5, 2010 i don't know about hoofs/hooves ~ but my dd13 CONSTANTLY writes "leafs" instead of "leaves". canadian hockey fans can likely guess why. ;) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Belacqua Posted October 5, 2010 Share Posted October 5, 2010 i don't know about hoofs/hooves ~ but my dd13 CONSTANTLY writes "leafs" instead of "leaves". canadian hockey fans can likely guess why. ;) OK, now all I can think of is that old NHL commercial in which a gardener in a Habs sweater mows down the leaves yelling, "Go away, maple leafs! You remind me of Mats Sundin. Die, maple leafs, die!" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
livingnlearning Posted October 6, 2010 Share Posted October 6, 2010 Weird! My husband is a farrier and we're both horsepeople and surrounded by horsepeople and they're hooves to us! I frequent a high/professional level horse message board and it's hooves there too... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gaillardia Posted October 6, 2010 Share Posted October 6, 2010 I am quite surprised. I have to say that I have NEVER heard of hoofs being used. Picture and listen to yourself say this: Texas cowboy saying in his long Texas way: "my horse's hoofs." Doesn't work, it would end up being "hoo' ifs". Now picture and listen Texas cowboy: " my horse's hooves." In Texas, we say "hooves," because we can't pronounce it the other way. And I'm a transplant. :lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Miss Sherry Posted October 6, 2010 Share Posted October 6, 2010 I have an Usborne book that uses fishes for the plural of fish. The book was printed in the UK. I haven't seen hoofs in a book. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gwenhwyfar Posted October 6, 2010 Share Posted October 6, 2010 OK, now all I can think of is that old NHL commercial in which a gardener in a Habs sweater mows down the leaves yelling, "Go away, maple leafs! You remind me of Mats Sundin. Die, maple leafs, die!" :lol::lol::lol::lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lolly Posted October 6, 2010 Share Posted October 6, 2010 I have an Usborne book that uses fishes for the plural of fish. The book was printed in the UK. I haven't seen hoofs in a book. Note of interest: Fish is plural for a group of the same species. Fishes is plural for a group that includes different species.:001_smile: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
justamouse Posted October 6, 2010 Share Posted October 6, 2010 hooves hoofs. what nonsense. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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