Casestudy(s) or Casestudy(ies)

English as a Second Language English Vocabulary, Grammar and Idioms
1

Hi,

Which one is grammatically correct, Casestudy(s) or Casestudy(ies)?

Thanks,
Arathi

2

Hi Arathi

The correct spelling is “case study” (i.e. two words), and the plural form of the noun “study” is always “studies”.

  • one case study
  • a lot of case studies
    .
3

Hi Amy,

I’m confused with case study words in the following example:

The Casestudy(s) you selected are attached.

Can you please correct me if its wrong?

4

Hi arathi,

Amy has already answered your question:

one case study
many case studies.

So your sentence should read:
The case studies you selected are attached.[YSaerTTEW443543]

TOEIC listening, photographs: A hospital ward[YSaerTTEW443543]

5

Hi Amy and Torsten,

Thanks a lot for your instant reply.

Regards,
Arathi.

6

In Arathi’s example, however, where both singular and plural have to be stated, since we don’t know if there’ll be one or more case studies, which option would you prefer:

  • case study(ies)
  • case study(studies)
  • case study/ies
  • case study/studies

Would the options ‘case study/s’ and ‘case study(s)’ really not be acceptable?

7

Hi Conchita,

You really understood my question.

I was actually meant to ask, if I need to mention both singular and plural in a sentence. And I don’t know if there will be one or more case studies are attached.

In this case, how do I write the case study word?

Thanks,
Arathi

8

Hi Arathi

Your example sentence is not grammatically correct because you used ‘are’, and that means that only ‘case studies’ (i.e. plural) would be correct.

If you are looking for a sentence to use in a standard text which is sent out to people regardless of whether they selected only one case study or several case studies, then I would suggest simply using the plural:
[i]

  • All of the case studies you selected are attached.
  • The case studies you selected are attached.[/i]

Otherwise, you would not only have to include both the singular and plural forms of ‘case study’ but also both the singular and plural form of the verb. That would result in an unnecessarily awkward and messy-looking sentence:

The case study/studies you selected is/are attached. [color=red](Not good!)

9

Hi,

Thanks for clarifying my query!

Regards,
Arathi