What Is the Plural of “Attorney General”?
The phrase attorney general often trips up writers, editors, and even native‑English speakers because it mixes a noun (“attorney”) with a plural‑sounding adjective (“general”). Understanding why the correct plural form is attorneys general—and not attorney generals—requires a brief dive into English grammar, the history of the term, and its modern usage in law and politics. This article explains the rule, explores its origins, compares similar constructions, and answers common questions, giving you the confidence to use the phrase correctly in any context.
Introduction: Why the Plural Matters
In everyday conversation you might hear a headline such as “State Attorneys General Meet to Discuss Cybersecurity.Because of that, ” If you write “Attorney Generals” instead, a careful reader will notice the mistake immediately. Plus, the plural form is more than a pedantic detail; it reflects the underlying structure of the phrase and signals that you respect the conventions of legal English. Beyond that, many style guides—The Chicago Manual of Style, The AP Stylebook, and The Oxford English Dictionary—all endorse attorneys general as the proper plural. Knowing the rule helps you avoid embarrassing errors in academic papers, news articles, and official documents.
The Grammar Behind the Phrase
1. Attorney + General = A post‑positive adjective
In English, most adjectives appear before the noun they modify (e.But the word general in attorney general belongs to this category. Think about it: g. , “red apple”). Still, a small group of adjectives—called post‑positive adjectives—follow the noun. It functions like “court‑martial” or “secretary‑general,” where the descriptive term comes after the primary noun That's the part that actually makes a difference..
Because general is an adjective, the noun attorney carries the number (singular or plural). When you need a plural, you simply pluralize the noun: attorneys. The adjective general stays unchanged, just as it does in “courts‑martial” (the plural of court‑martial).
2. Historical precedent from French
The construction derives from the French phrase avocat général, where avocat means “lawyer” and général functions as an adjective meaning “general” or “chief.That said, ” When the term entered English law in the Middle Ages, it retained the French word order. English speakers later adopted the same pluralization rule: only the noun receives the plural suffix Took long enough..
3. Parallel examples
Other government titles follow the same pattern:
- Surgeon General → surgeons general
- Postmaster General → postmasters general
- Comptroller General → comptrollers general
In each case, the noun is pluralized, while the adjective remains unchanged. Recognizing this pattern makes it easier to remember the correct form for attorney general.
Steps to Form the Correct Plural
- Identify the noun and the adjective – In attorney general, attorney is the noun, general is the adjective.
- Pluralize the noun only – Add ‑s (or the appropriate irregular plural) to attorney: attorneys.
- Leave the adjective unchanged – Keep general exactly as it appears.
- Combine the words – The final plural is attorneys general.
If you ever need to use a possessive form, apply the possessive to the whole phrase: the attorneys general’s joint statement (though many writers prefer to rephrase to avoid the awkward double‑possessive).
Scientific Explanation: Why Not Attorney Generals?
From a linguistic standpoint, attorney general is a compound noun where the head (the word that determines the grammatical number) is attorney. Compounds can be “right‑branching” (noun + adjective) or “left‑branching* (adjective + noun). In right‑branching compounds, the head is typically the first element, so the plural marker attaches there Which is the point..
In contrast, attorney generals would treat general as the head, implying that “general” is the primary noun and “attorney” merely modifies it. That would change the meaning entirely, suggesting a group of military generals who are also attorneys—a nonsensical concept. The English language naturally resists such a reinterpretation, which is why native speakers instinctively avoid the ‑s on general.
Counterintuitive, but true.
Common Misconceptions
| Misconception | Why It Happens | Correct Usage |
|---|---|---|
| “Attorney Generals” is acceptable because general looks like a noun. | ||
| “Attorney‑General” with a hyphen is the proper singular. | The word general can be a noun (e. | |
| The plural should match the singular in word order. | Use attorneys general when referring to the legal office. , “the general of the army”), leading to confusion. | Some style guides occasionally hyphenate the phrase for clarity. |
Usage in Modern Context
Legal Documents
In statutes and court opinions, the plural appears frequently. As an example, the U.Which means s. Day to day, department of Justice may write: “The attorneys general of the states shall cooperate with the Federal Government. ” Legal scholars cite this form in footnotes and treatises, reinforcing its authority Less friction, more output..
Media Headlines
News outlets follow AP style, which mandates attorneys general. A typical headline reads: “Attorneys General Push for Stronger Data‑Privacy Laws.” The brevity of headlines makes the correct plural even more important, as readers have little context to infer the meaning No workaround needed..
Academic Writing
When writing a law review article, you might encounter a sentence such as: “The attorneys general of the fifty states filed a joint amicus brief.” Using the correct plural demonstrates mastery of legal terminology, which can affect the perceived credibility of your work Not complicated — just consistent..
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1: Is attorneys‑general ever correct?
A: The hyphenated form attorneys‑general is occasionally seen in older British legal texts, but modern American and British style guides favor the space version (attorneys general) without a hyphen.
Q2: How do I pluralize surgeon general?
A: Exactly the same rule applies: surgeons general. The adjective general never takes an ‑s Small thing, real impact..
Q3: What about Attorney General as a title for a single person?
A: When referring to an individual, capitalize both words: Attorney General (e.g., “Attorney General Merrick Garland”). In the plural, only the noun is capitalized: Attorneys General.
Q4: Does the rule change in other English dialects?
A: No. Both American and Commonwealth English treat the plural as attorneys general. Some informal speakers may say attorney generals, but it is considered non‑standard.
Q5: Can I avoid the awkwardness by rephrasing?
A: Yes. If the phrase feels clunky, you can use alternatives such as “the chief legal officers” or “the state’s top lawyers.” That said, when the official title is required, stick with attorneys general.
Comparison with Similar Titles
| Title (Singular) | Correct Plural | Common Mistake | Example Sentence (Correct) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Attorney General | Attorneys General | Attorney Generals | “The attorneys general convened to discuss the new privacy bill.” |
| Surgeon General | Surgeons General | Surgeon Generals | “Surgeons General warned about rising vaping rates.” |
| Postmaster General | Postmasters General | Postmaster Generals | “Postmasters General approved the new mailing standards.” |
| Comptroller General | Comptrollers General | Comptroller Generals | “The comptrollers general released the audit report. |
Easier said than done, but still worth knowing.
Seeing the pattern side‑by‑side reinforces the rule and helps you apply it automatically.
Practical Tips for Writers
- Set a mental cue: When you see a two‑word title where the second word is general, remember the “noun‑first” rule.
- Proofread for the ‑s: In the final edit, scan for ‑s attached to general and correct it.
- Use a style guide: Keep a quick reference to AP, Chicago, or your organization’s guide handy.
- take advantage of find‑replace: If you have a draft with attorney generals, use “Find → Replace” to change all instances to attorneys general.
- Teach the rule: When mentoring junior writers, illustrate the pattern with multiple examples; repetition cements the concept.
Conclusion
The plural of Attorney General is attorneys general, a construction that follows the grammatical rule for post‑positive adjectives and mirrors French origins. Whether you are drafting a scholarly article, a news story, or a government report, applying this rule demonstrates precision and professionalism. By pluralizing only the noun attorney and leaving general unchanged, you align with centuries of legal tradition and modern style guides. Remember the pattern—noun + general → nouns general—and you’ll never stumble over the plural again.
Most guides skip this. Don't.
Now, the next time you encounter the title in a headline or a legal brief, you can write it with confidence, knowing that attorneys general is not just correct; it’s the historically and linguistically sound choice.
