trades unions

English

Noun

plural of trades union
plural of trade union when referring to unions representing different trades.

Usage notes

Some authorities, chiefly in the UK, suggest that the plural of trade union is trade unions when the relevant unions all represent the same trade (for example, "The train drivers were divided between two trade unions."), but trades unions when they represent different trades (for example, "There are hundreds of trades unions in England."). However, trade unions is commonly used for both cases.^[1]

References

^ 2011, Simon Heffer, Simply English: An A-Z of Avoidable Errors, page 359

[1] 2011, Simon Heffer, Simply English: An A-Z of Avoidable Errors, page 359

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