Talk:vital signs

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plural only or not?[edit]

@Equinox: Is this really plural only, or just plural chiefly? We have an entry for vital sign. PUC – 19:07, 16 December 2023 (UTC)[reply]

@PUC: It's grammatically plural. You must say "vital signs are", never "vital signs is". Equinox ◑ 22:00, 18 December 2023 (UTC)[reply]
@PUC: Having said that: maybe I misunderstood your question. "Vital signs" is always a plural noun; but you seem to be asking whether this is used plurally or not. Both "vital sign" (singular) and "vital signs" (plural) exist. See also my page User:Equinox for tips on countability. The countability of a word is not related to how many exist in the world, but is purely grammatical. Equinox ◑ 22:01, 18 December 2023 (UTC)[reply]
@PUC: Finally: if you're asking "can we just have a normal singular entry at vital sign, and reduce this entry here to a standard plural" — then yes, I think we can. (And mark the singular as "often plural".) Go ahead. Equinox ◑ 22:02, 18 December 2023 (UTC)[reply]
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