English for Today by Ganiu Abisoye Bamgbose (Dr GAB)
NOUNS USED IN PLURAL FORM
I know some custom officers (nonstandard).
I know some customs officers (standard).
Customs is the official organisation responsible for collecting taxes on goods and preventing illegal goods from a country.
His ~whereabout remains~ secret (nonstandard).
His ~whereabouts remains~ secret (nonstandard).
His *whereabouts remain* secret (standard).
Note that “whereabouts” has to be treated as a plural noun and should always attract a plural verb.
Prisoners were generally confined to the ~bowel~ of the ship (nonstandard).
Prisoners were generally confined to the *bowels* of the ship (standard).
The bowels of something are the deepest parts of it.
A long tube through which food travels while it is being digested after leaving the stomach is also called bowels.
GAB
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