What Is the Plural of “No” and “Yes”?

/ Erin Servais

What's the plural of "yes" and "no"?

Wondering how to spell the plural of no and yes? The answer may not be what you think.

The plural of no is noes.

The vote got thirteen noes.
How many noes will I get before I get a yes?
I heard noes from both candidates

The plural of yes is yeses.

The vote got thirteen yeses.
The yeses outnumbered the noes.
Three yeses later, and the idea is becoming a reality.

Note: Sometimes there is more than one correct way to spell a word. (Yes, I know. I see your jaw dropping.) This is true with yes. Merriam-Webster says you can also spell yeses as yesses and noes as nos.

Example: Yesses are often better than nos.

Apostrophes and plurals
You may see them spelled as no’s and yes’s. This is incorrect. Remember: apostrophes are almost never used to make plurals.

Erin Servais is a book editor, author coach, and founder of Dot and Dash, an author-services company. To see how she can help you with your writing project, email her at Erin@dotanddashllc.com.

 
Follow her on social media.
Twitter: @GrammarParty
Instagram: @dot_and_dash_llc
Facebook: www.facebook.com/dotanddashllc

 

7 thoughts on “What Is the Plural of “No” and “Yes”?”

  1. Rather like plural of “bus”; I have seen both “busses” and “buses” on official signs. This raises the question whether “Left lane busses only” means that only kissing is permitted there but no abuses.

    Like

    Reply

  2. Pingback: Yes! | katiemerkelwriter

  3. Since the example given is political lets keep it that way. The British parliament, a not unauthoritative body, reports its votes as ayes and noes.
    Plural of yes – ayes (pronounced eyes)
    Don’t you just love English irregularities

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  5. I’m not so sure about “yes’s” and “no’s” always being incorrect. We contract expression’s like “do not” and “will not” with apostrophes all the time, so contracting “yeses” to “yes’s” seems quite reasonable.

    Similar to writing “these are the do’s and don’ts of good grammar”. Or “mind your p’s and q’s”.

    Like

    Reply

Leave a comment