Attorneys is the correct plural spelling of attorney. Attornies is a common spelling mistake and should not be used in standard English.
An attorney is a legal professional who advises or represents clients in legal matters. When referring to more than one attorney, simply add -s to the singular word: attorney → attorneys.
The confusion comes from a common English spelling rule. Many nouns ending in a consonant followed by y change the y to ies in the plural. However, attorney ends in a vowel followed by y, so the final y stays unchanged.
Quick Answer
- Attorneys: Correct plural of attorney.
- Attornies: Incorrect spelling.
- Singular: Attorney.
- Plural: Attorneys.
Examples:
- The attorneys reviewed the contract before signing.
- Several attorneys represented the clients in court.
- The company hired two experienced attorneys.
The easiest rule to remember is simple: Attorney + s = Attorneys.
Attorneys vs. Attornies: What’s the Difference?
The difference between attorneys and attornies is spelling accuracy. Only attorneys is the accepted standard plural form of attorney.
| Word | Correctness | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| Attorneys | Correct | Standard plural of attorney |
| Attornies | Incorrect | Misspelling caused by applying the wrong plural rule |
Attorneys is appropriate in American English, professional communication, legal writing, and everyday use.
Attornies may appear in spelling mistakes or incorrectly written content, but it is not the standard plural form.
Correct: The attorneys discussed the case with their clients.
Incorrect: The attornies discussed the case with their clients.
Why Is Attorneys the Correct Spelling?
The word attorney ends in -ey. The letter immediately before the final y is e, which is a vowel.
English generally follows this rule when forming plurals:
- If a noun ends in a vowel + y, add -s.
- If a noun ends in a consonant + y, change y to i and add -es.
Because attorney ends in a vowel + y, its plural is attorneys.
Examples of vowel + y words:
| Singular | Plural |
|---|---|
| Attorney | Attorneys |
| Boy | Boys |
| Key | Keys |
| Day | Days |
| Monkey | Monkeys |
| Journey | Journeys |
| Employee | Employees |
Examples of consonant + y words:
| Singular | Plural |
|---|---|
| City | Cities |
| Baby | Babies |
| Party | Parties |
| Family | Families |
| Country | Countries |
| Company | Companies |
This spelling rule explains why attorneys is correct while attornies is not.
What Does Attorneys Mean?
Attorneys is a plural noun referring to two or more attorneys. An attorney is a legal professional who advises clients, represents them in legal proceedings, or performs other legal services.
In the United States, attorney is a widely used term for a lawyer.
Attorneys may work in different areas of law, including:
- Criminal law: Representing people accused of crimes or handling criminal prosecutions.
- Family law: Handling divorce, child custody, and related legal matters.
- Corporate law: Advising businesses on contracts, regulations, and legal obligations.
- Personal injury law: Representing people seeking compensation for injuries.
- Real estate law: Assisting with property transactions and legal disputes.
Examples of attorneys in sentences:
- The attorneys prepared their arguments before the trial.
- Several attorneys work at the downtown law firm.
- The company consulted its attorneys before making the decision.
- Both attorneys agreed to review the settlement.
- Experienced attorneys can help clients understand their legal options.
In each sentence, attorneys refers to more than one legal professional.
What Does Attornies Mean?
Attornies is a misspelling of attorneys. It is usually created when writers mistakenly apply the consonant + y pluralization rule to a word that ends in a vowel + y.
For example, family becomes families, but attorney becomes attorneys.
The spelling attornies should be avoided in standard English, including formal documents, business correspondence, academic writing, and legal communication.
Incorrect: The attornies reviewed the legal agreement.
Correct: The attorneys reviewed the legal agreement.
Incorrect: Three attornies attended the court hearing.
Correct: Three attorneys attended the court hearing.
Incorrect: She contacted two attornies for legal advice.
Correct: She contacted two attorneys for legal advice.
Always use attorneys when referring to multiple legal professionals.
Attorney vs. Attorneys: Singular and Plural Forms
Understanding the difference between the singular and plural forms helps prevent another common grammatical mistake.
Attorney is a singular noun. Use it when referring to one legal professional.
Examples:
- The attorney explained the legal process.
- I hired an attorney to review the agreement.
- Her attorney contacted the insurance company.
- The attorney presented evidence during the hearing.
Attorneys is a plural noun. Use it when referring to two or more legal professionals.
Examples:
- The attorneys discussed the case.
- Several attorneys attended the meeting.
- The firm employs experienced attorneys.
- Both attorneys represented their clients.
Remember that the noun and its verb should agree.
Singular: The attorney is reviewing the documents.
Plural: The attorneys are reviewing the documents.
Common Mistakes When Using Attorneys
Writers sometimes confuse the plural spelling of attorney with other nouns ending in y. The following examples show how to avoid these mistakes.
| Incorrect | Correct |
|---|---|
| Attornies | Attorneys |
| Two attorney | Two attorneys |
| Several attornies | Several attorneys |
| Many attorney | Many attorneys |
| Three attornies | Three attorneys |
| The attorneys is ready | The attorneys are ready |
Pay particular attention to the difference between attorney and attorneys. The singular form refers to one person, while the plural form refers to multiple people.
How To Remember Attorneys vs. Attornies
An easy way to remember the correct spelling is to focus on the final two letters of attorney.
The word ends in -ey, so you keep the y and add s.
Attorney + s = Attorneys
You can also compare it with these familiar words:
- Key → Keys
- Monkey → Monkeys
- Journey → Journeys
- Employee → Employees
- Attorney → Attorneys
Think of attorneys whenever you need the plural form. Do not change the final y to ies.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Attorneys or Attornies?
Attorneys is correct. It is the standard plural form of attorney. Attornies is a common misspelling and should be avoided.
What Is the Correct Plural of Attorney?
The correct plural of attorney is attorneys. Add -s to the singular form without changing the final y.
Why Is Attorneys Spelled With an S Instead of IES?
Because attorney ends in a vowel followed by y. English nouns with this ending generally form their plurals by adding -s. Therefore, the correct spelling is attorneys.
Is Attornies Ever Correct?
No. Attornies is not the standard plural spelling of attorney in modern English. Use attorneys in both formal and informal writing.
Is Attorney Singular or Plural?
Attorney is singular because it refers to one legal professional. Attorneys is plural because it refers to two or more legal professionals.
What Is the Difference Between an Attorney and a Lawyer?
In American English, attorney and lawyer are commonly used interchangeably. Both terms generally refer to legal professionals, although attorney can specifically emphasize someone authorized to act on behalf of a client.
How Do You Pronounce Attorneys?
Attorneys is commonly pronounced uh-TUR-neez. It has the same basic pronunciation as attorney, with a plural ending.
Should I Use Attorneys in Formal Writing?
Yes. Attorneys is the correct standard spelling and is appropriate for legal documents, professional correspondence, academic writing, and business communication.
Final Verdict: Attorneys or Attornies?
Attorneys is the correct spelling, and attornies is incorrect.
Use attorney when referring to one legal professional and attorneys when referring to more than one.
The spelling follows a simple English rule: nouns ending in a vowel followed by y generally form their plurals by adding -s.
Attorney → Attorneys
Remember this rule to avoid the common spelling mistake and use the correct form in your writing.
