Tips To Mastering the Plural of Series

So, what’s the deal with “series”? Well, it’s a sneaky little word that can be both singular and plural, depending on how you use it. Imagine it like a chameleon, blending into its surroundings.

It’s a collective noun, like “team” or “family,” which means it refers to a group of things. But unlike those nouns, “series” doesn’t change its form to show how many groups you’re talking about.

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Here’s where things get interesting

Singular “series”:

When you’re talking about one specific set of things in order, “series” is singular. Think of it like a single strand of pearls.

For example:

“The Harry Potter series is my all-time favorite.”

“The lecture series on the Great Barrier Reef was fascinating.”

“The doctor ran a series of tests to diagnose the patient.”

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Plural “series”:

You can also use “series” to talk about multiple sets of things. It’s like having a whole jewelry box full of pearl necklaces. In this case, you can use:

“I’m watching all the new Netflix series.”

“The library has a collection of science fiction series.”

“I’m planning a series of workshops on creative writing.”

“I just binge-watched three series back-to-back. My brain is officially mush.”

“The professor assigned five series of experiments for next week. Send coffee!”

“My favorite series are ‘Game of Thrones’ and ‘Friends.’ Don’t judge me.”

To make it even clearer that you’re talking about multiple series, you can use a plural adjective before it.

For example:

“I’m catching up on all my favorite weekly series.”

“The museum is hosting a series of interactive science exhibits.”

Now, here’s where some folks get tripped up

It about the temptation to add an “es” to make it plural. Like, “The library has a collection of sci-fi serieses.” But no! That’s the grammar goblin trying to lure you into his lair of incorrectness.

You don’t have to fall into the trap. “Series” is a zero plural, meaning it stays the same whether you’re talking about one or many.

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Final Thoughts

You heard that right! The plural of “series” remains unchanged. It is still series! Remember, it was likened to  a chameleon, a collective noun, and a zero plural all rolled into one.

Use it wisely, and you’ll be writing like a pro in no time! It’s very important not to forget that language is all about communication, not just following rigid rules. If your meaning is clear and your readers understand you, you’ve won the grammar game!

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