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Joined: Mar 2000
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old hand
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OP
old hand
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 1,027 |
A spoonful of sugar - that's easy. But how do you put it, if several of the same are needed?
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Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 742
old hand
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old hand
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 742 |
Well I know that it should be spoonsful, but that's too much of a mouthful, so I go with spoonfuls.
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Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 2,204
Pooh-Bah
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Pooh-Bah
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 2,204 |
I also say "spoonfuls" - but would usually *write "spoonsful."
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Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 1,692
Pooh-Bah
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Pooh-Bah
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 1,692 |
That puts it very well. In a nutshell. (I may turn these two sentences into a standard keystroke to use following Rhuby's posts  )
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Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 4,757
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 4,757 |
I would definitely say, and write, 'spoonfuls'. I think to do otherwise is simply confusing what is being pluralised - the referent is the 'spoonful', ie, the contents, not the (singular) spoon.
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Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 2,204
Pooh-Bah
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Pooh-Bah
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 2,204 |
Oh, well! if all you're concerned with is avoiding confusion!! 
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Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 3,439
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 3,439 |
spoonsful because (1.) I can be quite pedantic on occasion  and 2.) while I say spoonsful, I am thinking "spoons full" and (3.) In earlier days I wanted my children to be able to spell well and pronunciation is a big part of that skill.
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Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 1,624
Pooh-Bah
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Pooh-Bah
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 1,624 |
Well, actually, it probably depends on whether you regard the word "spoonful" as a word in its own right - a unit of measure - or if you see it as two separate words run together for a particular purpose within some context or other.
I happen to see it as a measure. A spoonful is an amount. Two spoonfuls is twice the amount. I therefore happen to think that spoonsful is just wrong.
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Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 6,511
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 6,511 |
I'm with the "spoonfuls" crowd. It's an amount; a measure, just like cupfuls. But then we have "passersby." Ah, English, the most lovely of bastards. 
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Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 2,661
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 2,661 |
...to be able to spell well and pronunciation is a big part of that skill.Yet, certainly, not the other way around. [eg] ------------ I'm with Phranz... one wouldn't say "Rhube is good at summing up things into nuts'shell"... edit - "...we have "passersby." Well, you might have them... couldn't resist-e
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