Is it "Time Outs" or "Times Out"?

[fett]

My punk son thinks I'm a wrong old fart. I say the correct plural of "Time-out" is "Times-out". He says it's "Time-outs". He's an asshole when he has had a few beers.:ROTF: And, heeeeer's Keith.

Keith typing:
If you think I'm wrong go check dictionary.com or do a google search and look for something with some actual credibility. My Father is just a sore loser.

P.S.
If someone has a current Websters Dictionary and can look this up, I'm sure we would both love to know the answer.

[JetFixxxer]

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/Time-Outs

[fett]

I may be old school, but I know I am right. And maybe babi-fett is right as well. But, I will never admit it.

[Cygnus X1]

Time out, for both of you.
Go to your's corner.

[sonicsamurai]

yeah its definately timeouts.

seconds out! round 2! *ding*

[Shawn Lutz]

the proper term is "timez dun be outs'

[Rich#6]

Well right now I think it should be, you are cut-off . then is it cuts-off or cut-offs?:ROTF:

[Norton]

So how's he doin' with his girlfriend?

[RacerX]

My Father is just a sore loser.

P

No argument here

Hi Keith!

[åron]

http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/compounds.htm

Seems that Fett is correct, according to this, but check the italicized bit to see where Keith may have a point, though it may be rooted in the ignorance of duh-m-asses:

For hyphenated forms, the pluralizing -s is usually attached to the element that is actually being pluralized: daughters-in-law, half-moons, mayors-elect. The Chicago Manual of Style says that "hyphenated and open compounds are regularly made plural by the addition of the plural inflection to the element that is subject to the change in number" and gives as examples "fathers-in-law," "sergeants-in-arms," "doctors of philosophy," "and courts-martial" (196). The NYPL Writer's Guide puts it this way: "the most significant word — generally the noun — takes the plural form. The significant word may be at the beginning, middle, or end of the term" (396). And then we get examples such as "attorneys at law," "bills of fare," chiefs of staff," notaries public," assistant attorneys general," "higher-ups," "also-rans," and "go-betweens."

Note: some dictionaries will list "attorney generals" along with "attorneys general" as acceptable plurals of that office. Whether that's a matter of caving in to popular usage or an inability to determine the "significant word" is unknown.

As a general rule, then, the plural form of an element in a hierarchical term belongs to the base element in the term, regardless of the base element's placement:

first sergeants
sergeants major
sergeants first class
colonel generals [Russian]
lieutenant generals
lieutenant colonels
apprentice, journeyman, and master mechanics
deputy librarians
deputy assistant secretaries of state

[Newc]

Timeouts.

It is one word, not a hyphenated compound, so to pluralize it, the -s goes on the end.

[VinceV]

the proper term is "timez dun be outs'

:ROTF::ROTF: Almost made me choke, fucker.

[StukaJU87]

At my job, having seniority is called having "time in". A certain element has been using the term "timez in". You guess who. :ROTF:

[Spivonious]

Timeouts.

It is one word, not a hyphenated compound, so to pluralize it, the -s goes on the end.

+1

[Newc]

At my job, having seniority is called having "time in". A certain element has been using the term "timez in". You guess who. :ROTF:

The prisoners?

In that situation, the full context of the sentence must be considered:
"I have considerable time in this field", etc.

Back to "Timeout" - since it is a proper name for a given act, just like a Stock Trade or a Pie Fight, it can also be stated as "Time Out", so the plural form in context would be "I've given him several Time Outs, but he's still a rotten little bastard".