English grammar can sometimes leave you scratching your head, especially when it comes to certain rules and exceptions. Take the plural forms of the word “zero” for example. You may have wondered whether it’s correct to use “zeros” or “zeroes” when referring to more than one zero. While English follows some basic rules for plurals, there are always exceptions that can make things confusing. For instance, most words that end in an “o” follow a simple rule: just add “s” to form the plural, making “zeros” the more common and widely accepted spelling. However, there’s also the less common version—”zeroes”—which follows an unusual rule for some words ending in “o.”
When zero is used as a verb, the situation changes. In this case, the verb form “zeroes” is the correct choice, especially in the third-person singular. For example, “He zeroes in on his target” means that he is aiming at something, like setting a stopwatch to a zero point before recording a new time. This use of “zeroes” is part of a phrasal verb that means to focus or target something precisely.
While both zeros and zeroes are correct when referring to the plural of zero, remember that zeros is the preferred and more frequently used form. The other version, zeroes, applies to the verb form and specific contexts, but it is less commonly used for plurals in everyday writing. In essence, understanding the rules and the exceptions can help you choose the right form, whether you’re dealing with a number or a verb.
Plural forms of the noun “zero”
- When it comes to forming the plural of zero, there are two options, but one is far more common than the other. The most common and standard plural form is “zeros”, which follows the general rule in English where you add “-s” to make a word plural. For example, “There are three zeros in 1000.” This is the version you’ll see most often in everyday writing and speaking.
- On the other hand, “zeroes” is a less common alternative, but it is still correct in certain contexts, especially if you’re following a specific style guide. For instance, in mathematical or scientific writing, you might come across phrases like “The polynomial has two zeroes.” Though this form isn’t used as frequently, it’s still an acceptable plural for zero in particular cases.
Is it ”Zeros” or “Zeroes”?
When it comes to the plural of zero, both zeros and zeroes are technically correct, but zeros is the more widely accepted choice. According to the Google N-Gram Viewer, zeros appears much more often in written texts, making it the popular choice for most occasions. While zeroes is also permissible, it is less commonly used. For example, you would typically say “multiple zeros” when referring to more than one zero. However, both forms can be used, and the choice depends on personal preference or specific style guides.
A deeper look at the plural form of “zero”
In English, the plural form of zero can be a bit puzzling for many, leaving people unsure of whether to use zeros or zeroes. While both forms came from the same source and are technically correct, the preferred option is usually zeros. This is especially true in most cases, as zeros is the form most commonly seen in writing and speech. Zeroes, however, is not wrong and may appear in specific style guides or certain contexts. Understanding these options helps clarify what the right answer is, and knowing when each form is appropriate can prevent confusion at times.
You might enjoy reading: Student’s vs Students’: Unlock the Grammar Mystery Now!”
Where does all this confusion stem from?
The confusion about zeros vs. zeroes arises from the rules governing plurals in English, especially when a noun ends with an “o.” While the Oxford Dictionary lists zeros as the most common plural form, English has several valid answers for nouns ending in “o.” For instance, words like solos, zoos, and studios just add “s” to form their plural, while words like dominoes, heroes, and buffaloes use “es”. This inconsistency creates a confounding category for zero, making it unclear whether to use zeros or zeroes. Some may use zeroes as they see it similar to words like cargoes or banjoes, but zeros is typically the preferred form. The mixture of these rules contributes to the confusion that often surrounds pluralizing words ending in “o.”
“Zeros” and “Zeroes” Examples (Both are correct!)
Examples
Both zeros and zeroes are acceptable plural forms of the word zero, and you can use either form depending on your preference or the style guide you’re following. For example, you might say, “There are three zeros in the number 1000,” or “The zeroes on the clock marked the start of the race.” Both sentences are correct, showing that zeros and zeroes can be used freely in different contexts. As an English teacher, I’ve seen both forms used appropriately, so you can feel confident using either when writing or speaking.
That said, we should add a little context here.
For starters, when you examine resources like the Corpus of Contemporary American English (COCA) or the British National Corpus (BNC), you’ll notice that zeros is the more popular form. To be accurate, the COCA shows that zeros is used almost three times as often as zeroes, while the BNC shows zeros being used more than 26 times as often as zeroes. This indicates that in America, zeros is the clear winner, while in Britain, there’s no real comparison—it’s used overwhelmingly in favor of zeros.
That said, there are still public usages of zeroes that are noteworthy. An excellent case in point is in Stephen Hawking’s famous book, “A Brief History of Time”, where he uses the term zeroes. This shows that while zeros dominates in both the COCA and BNC, zeroes still has merit mention in certain contexts, particularly in specific academic or literary uses.
Using the singular “zero”
As mentioned earlier, there are cases where you can use a singular “zero” to refer to more than one zero.
Example
As mentioned earlier, there are times when the singular zero can be used to refer to more than one zero. This usage often occurs when you are describing something like a pair of socks or a set of kitchen knives. For example, you might say “double zero” to refer to two zeros in a specific context, such as in scoring systems or measurements. Even though zero is a singular noun, in these cases, it functions similarly to how we use words like “pair” or “set” to describe more than one of something. It’s like saying “a pair of shoes” or “a set of knives, even though these terms are still technically describing multiple items.
This might leave you wondering if this is a legitimate use of the singular form. The simplest answer is yes—this usage is both correct and legitimate. While zeros is the more popular form in overall usage, expressions like double zeros or double zeroes do appear occasionally, especially in specific contexts like sports or measurements. In fact, zero is used this way even in languages with more rigid grammar rules, and it’s not limited to plural situations. This is just another example of how the language evolves, making zero both versatile and correct in these contexts.
You might enjoy reading: Impressive Ways to Express ‘I Look Forward to Speaking With You’
Zeroes” as a verb
When zero is used as a verb, it takes on different meanings depending on the context. One common usage is when you zero in on something, meaning to focus or target it precisely. For example, a detective might say they are zeroing in on a suspect, meaning they are adjusting their attention towards the suspect. This verb form of zero is often used when referring to adjusting or fine-tuning to focus on a specific point, like zeroing the scale before measuring. The form zeroes is used in the third-person singular, such as “He zeroes in on his target,” showing how the verb can be applied in real-life situations.
Now, the past of “zero” is “zeroed,” and the third person singular is “zeroes.”
Examples
The past form of zero is “zeroed”, which you might use when describing an action that has already happened. For example, you could say, “The hawk zeroed in on the fleeing rabbit,” meaning the hawk focused on the rabbit in the past. When using zero in the third-person singular, you add “es”, creating “zeroes”. For instance, “The player zeroes in on the goal,” shows the player focusing on the goal. Similarly, “She zeroes the gauge before using it” demonstrates how the verb is used to describe an action of adjustment or focus in the present.
