English for Today by Ganiu Abisoye Bamgbose (Dr GAB)
PLURAL NOUNS THAT DO NOT ATTRACT S
These proposal met opposition from the ~clergies~ (nonstandard).
The proposal met opposition from the *clergy* (standard).
The clergy are the official leaders of the religious activities of a particular group of believers.
You shouldn’t let anyone see you with such ~riff-raffs~ (nonstandard).
You shouldn’t let anyone see you with such *riff-raff* (standard).
If you refer to a group of people as riff-raff, you disapprove of them because you think they are not respectable.
I haven’t had time to reply to my ~correspondences~ (nonstandard).
I haven’t had time to reply to my *correspondence* (standard).
Someone’s correspondence is the letters that they receive or send.
GAB
It’s interesting