Oh those are fun. I've been thinking of expanding my list whenever this subject comes up, so I'll definitely use some of those.
Not all of them fit the pattern, though. LP and GI don't contain a noun that gets pluralized (assuming we're talking about records and soldiers). IOU is a pun with no spelled-out form (there aren't I-owe-yous, just IOUs).
To find examples as close as I could to RBI, I tried not to use acronyms (which get pronounced as a word), only initialisms (in which each letter is pronounced separately).
That one doesn't quite work either because the noun is last. It's an interesting case though, because the plural noun *women* is not formed by adding *-s*, whereas BBWs is.
FWBs, perhaps?
No it isn't. Although the form without the *-s* is also listed, *RBIs* is [listed first](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/RBI) because RBI is a count noun. They are discrete items and so it makes sense to talk about them in the singular and the plural.
Making a whole initialism plural is standard usage. e.g.: MILFs, not MsILF
Trying to do the verbal gymnastics around pluralizing the initial of the respective noun would be silly and pedantic.
I ask people who say, "4 RBI," if they also say, "a RBI," to be consistent.
If you say "4 RBI" as in 4 runs batted in, then you would say "a RBI" as in a run batted in.
When they hear themselves say "a RBI" they know it sounds weird.
You know why
It's RBIs because you pluralize an initialism by adding *-s* even if the plural noun is not represented by the last letter: POWs, DOBs, ETAs, RBIs.
WMDs, MREs, AGs, LPs, IOUs, MPs, GIs, POGs, PDAs.
PAWGs
Oh those are fun. I've been thinking of expanding my list whenever this subject comes up, so I'll definitely use some of those. Not all of them fit the pattern, though. LP and GI don't contain a noun that gets pluralized (assuming we're talking about records and soldiers). IOU is a pun with no spelled-out form (there aren't I-owe-yous, just IOUs).
MILFs
To find examples as close as I could to RBI, I tried not to use acronyms (which get pronounced as a word), only initialisms (in which each letter is pronounced separately).
Ahhh, ok. BBWs
That one doesn't quite work either because the noun is last. It's an interesting case though, because the plural noun *women* is not formed by adding *-s*, whereas BBWs is. FWBs, perhaps?
How can you not be pedantic about baseball?
RBI is the plural form. RBUS is the singular. Y’know, like 🌵
i just think it’s odd that i had this thought randomly pop into my head a couple of hours ago and now i’m seeing it here
Why is it Attorneys General and not Attorney Generals? We will never know
Because "general" is an adjective.
I said we will NEVER know!
Fine. We'll never know.
What about Major General?
Technically, its not RBI's. It's just RBI. 1 Run batted in - 8 Runs batted in.
I am quite amused at you trying to get technical while missing an apostrophe on "its" and using one on "RBI's" when you shouldn't have.
It's the height of my humor.
No it isn't. Although the form without the *-s* is also listed, *RBIs* is [listed first](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/RBI) because RBI is a count noun. They are discrete items and so it makes sense to talk about them in the singular and the plural.
Interesting!
20 miles per gallon...20 MsPG? 10 prisoners of war...10 PsOW?
Making a whole initialism plural is standard usage. e.g.: MILFs, not MsILF Trying to do the verbal gymnastics around pluralizing the initial of the respective noun would be silly and pedantic.
Because you touch yourself at night
Because it sounds better and people understand it
Announcers call the “Ribbies” sometimes. Don’t think too much into it.
I don’t know if one or the other would technically be correct over the other, but I prefer saying RBI instead of RBIs.
I ask people who say, "4 RBI," if they also say, "a RBI," to be consistent. If you say "4 RBI" as in 4 runs batted in, then you would say "a RBI" as in a run batted in. When they hear themselves say "a RBI" they know it sounds weird.
Because it would be “an RBI”…. As in, “it’s an RBI single for Aaron Judge, and the Yankees take a 7-0 lead. He now has 4 RBI on the day.”
Would you say, "it's a RBI single for Aaron Judge..." or does it sound weird?
It sounds weird.
I call them "ribbies"