LauraGB Posted December 30, 2011 Share Posted December 30, 2011 (edited) I thought to make handful plural, it became handsful, but my spell checker is hating that. Were I on a game show, I would have hit the buzzer for handsful, but now I don't know. What do you think? ETA - there should only be one l in the "handfuls" in the poll (I think - at least I thought so...) :rolleyes:. Edited December 30, 2011 by LauraGB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThisIsTheDay Posted December 30, 2011 Share Posted December 30, 2011 If I have a lot of things to do, I have my hands full. If I'm swimming in something, I have handfuls--enough for many hands. It's the "full" that is plural, not necessarily the hand. If I think about this any more, my head will hurt! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LauraGB Posted December 30, 2011 Author Share Posted December 30, 2011 If I have a lot of things to do, I have my hands full. If I'm swimming in something, I have handfuls--enough for many hands. It's the "full" that is plural, not necessarily the hand. If I think about this any more, my head will hurt! That's what is throwing me off, though. If I am grabbing more than one handful or lettuce or m&ms or something, I will grab a few...hands ful - in which case, it isn't the "full" that's plural, it's my hands (as in how many I am using to grab lots of stuff). My head hurts, too - the word doesn't even look right anymore no matter how it's spelled! And it's beginning to sound stupid, too. :lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jewellsmommy Posted December 30, 2011 Share Posted December 30, 2011 I think if it is like this: 1 handful of m&ms plus one more handful of m&ms means that I have 2 "1 handful"s or 2 handfuls. I think the difference is it is being used as a term of measurement,not a quantity of hands that are full. :lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
QueenCat Posted December 30, 2011 Share Posted December 30, 2011 handsfull Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sweetbasil Posted December 30, 2011 Share Posted December 30, 2011 That's what is throwing me off, though. If I am grabbing more than one handful or lettuce or m&ms or something, I will grab a few...hands ful - in which case, it isn't the "full" that's plural, it's my hands (as in how many I am using to grab lots of stuff). My head hurts, too - the word doesn't even look right anymore no matter how it's spelled! And it's beginning to sound stupid, too. :lol: Handfuls is plural. If I have 7 handfuls it would take 7 hands to carry the items. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LaxMom Posted December 30, 2011 Share Posted December 30, 2011 Neither. Handfuls. One L. :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Parrothead Posted December 30, 2011 Share Posted December 30, 2011 With these three puppies I have my hands full. Drop three handfuls of pasta in the boiling water. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LauraGB Posted December 31, 2011 Author Share Posted December 31, 2011 I hate being wrong :D. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thescrappyhomeschooler Posted December 31, 2011 Share Posted December 31, 2011 I think if it is like this: 1 handful of m&ms plus one more handful of m&ms means that I have 2 "1 handful"s or 2 handfuls. I think the difference is it is being used as a term of measurement,not a quantity of hands that are full. :lol: That's exactly how I thought of it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
luvnlattes Posted December 31, 2011 Share Posted December 31, 2011 Neither. Handfuls. One L. :D :iagree: It seems you can't always trust spellchecker. The online dictionary shows you just add an 's' to make handful plural. Hopefully, it's trustworthy :D . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Twigs Posted December 31, 2011 Share Posted December 31, 2011 Merriam-Webster says both are correct hand·ful noun plural handfuls also handsful Definition of HANDFUL 1 as much or as many as the hand will grasp 2 a small quantity or number <a handful of people> 3 as much as one can manage <the kids are quite a handful> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
luvnlattes Posted December 31, 2011 Share Posted December 31, 2011 Merriam-Webster says both are correct I was wondering if a different dictionary would say something else. It seems there's always an exception! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
V Addeman Posted March 16, 2021 Share Posted March 16, 2021 I can't see language issues being decided by a poll. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lori D. Posted March 16, 2021 Share Posted March 16, 2021 ZOMBIE ALERT - old thread revived by a first time poster! 🧟♂️ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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