Avoid plurals in parentheses (EK00017)
A clear plural reads better than a parenthetical suffix like file(s) and avoids ambiguity about quantity in your documentation.
A clear plural reads better than a parenthetical suffix and avoids ambiguity about quantity in your documentation. EkLine flags parenthetical plurals such as file(s) and suggests rewriting them as a plural or rewording the phrase (rule EK00017).
Why avoid parenthetical plurals in documentation?
Section titled “Why avoid parenthetical plurals in documentation?”A construction like value(s) forces the reader to parse two forms of the word at once and leaves the count unclear. Screen readers voice the parentheses literally, which makes the phrase harder to follow. Committing to a plural or a precise phrase removes both problems.
What EkLine flags
Section titled “What EkLine flags”EK00017 flags a parenthetical plural such as “(s)” attached to a noun.
- ❌ Incorrect: Select the file(s).
- ✅ Correct: Select one or more files.
- ❌ Incorrect: Enter your value(s).
- ✅ Correct: Enter your values.
How to fix
Section titled “How to fix”Rewrite the noun as a plural, or reword the sentence to state the quantity. When the count matters, name it — for example, “one or more files.”
What is wrong with writing file(s)?
Section titled “What is wrong with writing file(s)?”A construction like file(s) forces the reader to parse two forms at once and leaves the count unclear. Screen readers also voice the parentheses literally.
How do you rewrite a parenthetical plural?
Section titled “How do you rewrite a parenthetical plural?”Use a plain plural, or state the quantity directly. “Select the file(s)” becomes “Select one or more files”.
Rule details
Section titled “Rule details”| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Rule ID | EK00017 |
| Category | Sentences and phrases |
| Default severity | Error |
| Enabled by default | Yes |
Ignore this rule
Section titled “Ignore this rule”To keep a flagged plural on one line, add an inline comment with a reason:
<!-- ekline-ignore-next-line EK00017 -- matches the UI label exactly -->Select the File(s) menu item.To disable the rule across your project, add it to the ignore list in your configuration file.