This template allows easy formatting of statements of the form "# thing(s)", with correct use of plurals. It uses the "plural" magic word, so it should work in other languages with minimal modification.
Usage
With a space between the number and name (using numeric character reference  ):
- {{plural|number|name}}
- {{plural|number|singular name|plural name}}
With a non-breaking space between the number and name (using character entity reference ):
- {{plural|number|name|nb=yes}}
- {{plural|number|singular name|plural name|nb=yes}}
Examples
For most English nouns, the plural is formed by adding "s" to the end of the singular form. If that is the case, only one "name" parameter is required:
{{plural|0|page}}returns "0 pages"{{plural|1|page}}returns "1 page"{{plural|2|page}}returns "2 pages"{{plural|-1|page}}returns "-1 page"{{plural|-2|page}}returns "-2 pages"{{plural|0.5|page}}returns "0.5 pages"{{plural|1.5|page}}returns "1.5 pages"{{plural|-0.5|page}}returns "-0.5 pages"{{plural|-1.5|page}}returns "-1.5 pages"
For plurals that require adding "es", or more unusual forms, the singular and plural forms must be specified explicitly:
{{plural|0|ox|oxen}}returns "0 oxen"{{plural|1|ox|oxen}}returns "1 ox"{{plural|2|ox|oxen}}returns "2 oxen"{{plural|-1|ox|oxen}}returns "-1 ox"{{plural|-2|ox|oxen}}returns "-2 oxen"{{plural|0.5|ox|oxen}}returns "0.5 oxen"{{plural|1.5|ox|oxen}}returns "1.5 oxen"{{plural|-0.5|ox|oxen}}returns "-0.5 oxen"{{plural|-1.5|ox|oxen}}returns "-1.5 oxen"
With parameter |nb=:
<div style="width:5em">{{plural|2|sesquipedalian|nb=yes}}</div>returns:2 sesquipedalians<div style="width:5em">{{plural|2|sesquipedalian|nb=no}}</div>returns:2 sesquipedalians
Notes
- While
{{plural|#|sheep|sheep}}is valid, it is also fairly pointless. - The template does not handle missing parameters 1 or 2:
{{plural}}returns "{{{1}}} {{{2}}}s" - The template does not handle empty parameters 1 or 2:
{{plural||}}returns " s" - The template does not remove leading or trailing spaces in parameters 1 or 2:
{{plural | 2 | page }}returns " 2 page s"
TemplateData
Allows easy formatting of statements using plural.
| Parameter | Description | Type | Status | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number | 1 | The number of items: 0, 1, 2 etc. | Number | required |
| Singular name | 2 | The text to use when one item is specified | String | required |
| plural name | 3 | The text to use when two or more items are specified. The default is to append the singular form with 's'. | String | optional |
| 4 | 4 | no description | Unknown | optional |
| nb | nb | no description | Unknown | optional |