_Remark II._—_Pontific_, and all other derivatives of pontiff, are exceptions to the latter part of this rule, unless an _f_ is discarded in the primitive word, as Webster suggests and the derivation warrants. The derivatives of dull, full, skill, and will, are disputed exceptions: if spelled as Webster writes them, _dullness_, _fullness_, _skillful_, _willful_, they conform to the rule. RULE X. The plural is usually formed from the singular by adding _s_; as, brave, _braves_; night, _nights_; hymn, _hymns_. RULE XI. Nouns ending in _o_ preceded by a vowel accept of _s_ in the plural; as, cameo, _cameos_; studio, _studios_. ILLUSTRATIONS. agios bagnios bamboos braggadocios cameos cuckoos curculios embryos folios imbroglios intaglios internuncios koodoos nuncios olios oratorios pistachios port-folios punctilios ratios seraglios solfeggios studios trios RULE XII. Nouns ending in _y_ preceded by a vowel accept of _s_ in the plural; as, money, _moneys_; attorney, _attorneys_; valley, _valleys_. RULE XIII. Nouns ending in _o_ preceded by a consonant usually accept of _es_ in the plural; as, echo, _echoes_; embargo, _embargoes_. _Remark._—There are more than fifty words that conform to this rule, and about thirty that accept of _s_ only. ILLUSTRATIONS. archipelagoes armadilloes bilboes bravadoes bravoes buffaloes buffoes calicoes cargoes desperadoes echoes embargoes farragoes frescoes grottoes gustoes heroes innuendoes juntoes lazarettoes lingoes lumbagoes mangoes manifestoes mottoes mulattoes negroes palmettoes passadoes peccadilloes potatoes prunelloes punchinelloes punctoes ranchoes recitativoes relievoes renegadoes ritornelloes rotundoes stilettoes supercargoes testudoes tomatoes tornadoes torpedoes umboes vetoes violoncelloes viragoes volcanoes zeroes EXCEPTIONS. albinos cantos centos dominos duodecimos halos hidalgos inamoratos lassos limbos major-domos mementos merinos mosquitos octavos pianos porticos provisos quartos rancheros ridottos rondos salvos set-tos sirocos solos torsos tyros It would be well if all words ending in _o_ were made to conform to Rules XI. and XIII. RULE XIV. Nouns ending in _ss_, _z_, _x_, _ch_ soft, and _sh_, accept of _es_ in the plural; as, dress, _dresses_; buzz, _buzzes_; box, _boxes_; peach, _peaches_; dish, _dishes_. RULE XV. Nouns ending in _y_ after a consonant change _y_ into _ies_ in the plural; as, city, _cities_; daisy, _daisies_. RULE XVI.