Did you ever think one of “Heros” vs. “Heroes” is just a mere typo, while the other is used correctly?
Whatever your thoughts are, not knowing the right word to use and when to use it can leave your writing in shambles. The good thing is that this article hits directly on the subject, with the simplest answer.
Here’s the difference between Heros and Heroes
Heroes is the actual plural form of “hero.”
Remember that courageous fighter you cheered for in your last action movie? He’s one hero. Now, picture a whole war zone full of those brave souls battling for who the cap fits. Those are heroes, and it is the plural form of Hero. Now, where does “Heros” come in?
Well, I’ll start by letting you know that “heros” is not a word to be used in place of Heroes. You can repeat after me.
While it might sound similar, using “heros” will make your writing run out of your reader’s table. And, you won’t like that, trust me.
“Heros” is the name associated with freshwater, a genus of fish. Yes, you read that right.
These fishes are native to South American underwater beauties and are fascinating in their way. However, they are not Heroes.
READ ALSO: A Closer Look At The Past Tense of Sew
Practical Examples of how to use each of them
Heroes is the correct plural form of “hero,” used to refer to multiple individuals with outstanding qualities or actions.
Examples:
- The firefighters were hailed as heroes for rescuing the trapped family.
- Legends tell of mighty heroescwho battled mythical creatures.
- We need more heroes who stand up for what’s right.
Meanwhile, Heros is a grammatically incorrect form of “hero.” Avoid using it.
Example:
- Incorrect: The book tells the stories of five heros. (Should be “heroes”)
See How to Avoid Using “Heros” in place of “Heroes”
Now, let’s get a bit practical, and learn ways to avoid using “heros” and “Heroes” interchangeably. Here are some tips and I often practice the third bullet point.
1. Remember the “o” rule: Nouns ending in “o” usually add “-es” for the plural.
- “Tomato” becomes “tomatoes,”
- “Potato” becomes “potatoes,” and guess what?
- “Hero” becomes “heroes” It’s that easy.
2. Double-check with a dictionary: If you’re ever unsure, feel free to consult your dictionary. It’ll never steer you wrong (unless it’s a really old dictionary, in which case, you should upgrade it).
3. Read your work aloud: Sometimes, hearing your writing can highlight typos and awkward phrasing. If “heros” creeps in mistakenly, your ears will probably be the first to notice.
4. Always consider the power of spellcheck: Technology has been very helpful lately, you can let it be your grammar guardian too.
Most programs will flag “heros” as an error, prompting you to check the spelling and eventually change it to “heroes” instead. One of these programs I can recommend is Grammarly.