Which is gramatically correct?

Question

In the singular, is it:

right-of-way

OR

right of way

In the plural, is it:

rights-of-way

right-of-ways

rights of way

OR

right of ways

Please don't guess. Only answer if you really know.

Answer 1

It cant be  a plural can it?

Answer 2

its the same singular or plural

Answer 3

Boy, you get some strange answers - if you're talking about more than one right of way, there has to be a plural somewhere.

My Style Manual (and several others I checked) say 'Right of Way' and 'Rights of Way'.

You will also see, and a few style manuals support, 'Right-of-Way' and 'Rights-of-Way', so you could use either. No hyphens seems more common.

The reason for doing it this way is that 'right' is actually the noun and the 'of way' is an adjective phrase modifying it.



It's the same for 'brothers in law' and other similar items.

Answer 4

singular is right of way

plural is right of way

lol :-)