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Archive v. archives



My copy of Websters' 20th (1980) includes the word "archives," but not
"archive."   The Random House dictionary in the reading room has the entry
under "archive" with a note that it's usually "archives;" but it also uses
the singular form in its example.  My copy of the SAA Glossary is at home,
but I recall that it prefers "archives;" I don't recall if it lists the
singular.

I've always found some value in having both "singular" and "plural" form of
the word to help distinguish when one is speaking of one repository or
collection v. many.

I'm not sure there's ever any "correct" answer when it comes to usage, but
there are preferences.

I would be curious if members of this list feel strongly as to whether one
form or the other is good or bad.  And why.

Richard Pearce-Moses
 RPM@Primenet.Com

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