Nouns ending in o preceded by a consonant usually accept of es in the plural; as, echo, echoes; embargo, embargoes.
Remark.—There are more than fifty words that conform to this rule, and about thirty that accept of s only.
ILLUSTRATIONS.
- archipelagoes
- armadilloes
- bilboes
- bravadoes
- bravoes
- buffaloes
- buffoes
- calicoes
- cargoes
- desperadoes
- echoes
- embargoes
- farragoes
- frescoes
- grottoes
- gustoes
- heroes
- innuendoes
- juntoes
- lazarettoes
- lingoes
- lumbagoes
- mangoes
- manifestoes
- mottoes
- mulattoes
- negroes
- palmettoes
- passadoes
- peccadilloes
- potatoes
- prunelloes
- punchinelloes
- punctoes
- ranchoes
- recitativoes
- relievoes
- renegadoes
- ritornelloes
- rotundoes
- stilettoes
- supercargoes
- testudoes
- tomatoes
- tornadoes
- torpedoes
- umboes
- vetoes
- violoncelloes
- viragoes
- volcanoes
- zeroes
EXCEPTIONS.
- albinos
- cantos
- centos
- dominos
- duodecimos
- halos
- hidalgos
- inamoratos
- lassos
- limbos
- major-domos
- mementos
- merinos
- mosquitos
- octavos
- pianos
- porticos
- provisos
- quartos
- rancheros
- ridottos
- rondos
- salvos
- set-tos
- sirocos
- solos
- torsos
- tyros
It would be well if all words ending in o were made to conform to Rules XI. and XIII.
RULE XIV.
Nouns ending in ss, z, x, ch soft, and sh, accept of es in the plural; as, dress, dresses; buzz, buzzes; box, boxes; peach, peaches; dish, dishes.