Question for an English teacher?

Question

This question is for someone who teaches English, preferably. I am kind of a nut when it comes to correct grammar and spelling so I think I am right about this, but, my boyfriend seems to differ. I say, for example "sixty CENT" or "one dollar and five CENT" (basically, I say cent instead of CENTS). Every time I say cent, my boyfriend will go "SSSSSSSSSSSSSSS.....it's CENTSSSSSSSS" and I argue with him day in and day out. I would like to know who is actually correct. Links to websites to further prove to him or myself that the other is incorrect would be most helpful! Thank you and hopefully we can settle this once and for all!!!!

Answer 1

     As an Adult School and College English and ESL (English as a Second Language) Instructor, I have taught basics and advanced classes.  In the English basics, I always taught students to add the -s in the plural (numbers) when writing checks for example as in many other cases.

Answer 2

Grammatically speaking your boyfriend is correct. To make "cent" plural you add an "s." HOWEVER, I looked it up in an online dictionary (link below) and there is a common usage that differs from the established grammar on the subject.

It's common Southern vernacular to say "cent" rather than "cents" when the word follows a quantity. So to say "that costs eighty cent" (the example on the website) is acceptable vernacular.

HOWEVER, I would like to point out that because something is acceptable vernacular doesn't mean it's correct. That just means it's used in a certain way. I put the link in for that definition too if you care to peruse it.

So you could argue that your boyfriend is right, but you're not WRONG. I know I just don't like being wrong so I hope that helps. :)

Answer 3

That is a twenty-five cent question, and the answer is worth twenty-five cents.  

Answer 4

Well, as an English Teacher, I would have to say it's wrong to say 50 cent.

But then again, I'm neither southern nor American. In Britain, Canada, New Zealand and Australia (countries in which I've lived) everybody adds the "s" when making a plural.

Strange, but when on holiday in the states, I never heard anyone say 80 cent. Sounds weird to me.

Answer 5

I'm an English teacher in the South, where this speech is apparently the norm (?!). I can't recall ever hearing "cent" used as a collective noun when discussing money, and I would correct any student if he or she used it as one.

I know there is quite a debate (among the grammar nuts) overseas about whether Euro and Cent should have an "s" for plural forms. But I can't recall ever hearing someone in the US use "cent" unless it was singular.

Answer 6

Common knowledge of grammar leads me to believe that your boyfriend is correct.

If the amount of coinage is plural, then it should be stated as "cents".

If the amount of coinage is singular, then it should be stated as "cent".