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Originally posted by Suzianneboth dwarfs & dwarves are okay, although I believe dwarfs is (was) actually the 'main' form. 'dwarves' didn't even used to be listed in dictionaries until recently. but nowadays dwarves is considered okay as well.
his dwarves get taller
totally unrelated, dwarves has always struck me as awkward for some reason. I guess it's the subsequent vs, it just doesn't flow that naturally. it's a bit of a tongue twister. knives yes, dwarves... awkward. there's just something wrong with the rythm.
Originally posted by SuzianneThe plural form dwarfs has been traced to the 17th century. The alternative plural dwarves has been recorded in the early 18th century (cf. such plurals as "loaves," "elves", "halves," etc.) but was not generally accepted until used by philologist J. R. R. Tolkien in his fantasy novel The Hobbit. Neither spelling represents the regular phonetic development of the Old English plural dweorgas, namely dwarrows; rather, they descend from a new plural formed in Middle English from the singular stem. Similarly, the old inherited plural dwarrows acquired a singular dwarrow.[4] Although dwarrow has passed from the language, both dwarfs and dwarves are in current use. Many grammarians prefer dwarfs; many fantasists prefer dwarves. The form dwarfs is generally used for real people affected by dwarfism and in reference to dwarf stars in astronomy; the form dwarves is used for the mythical people described by Tolkien and others.
his dwarves get taller
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I prefer to be on the side of realistic people, thank you.
