How to do it right: key rings or key chains

2024 Author: Malcolm Clapton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:44

Both declination options are correct, but there are nuances.

Previously, the correct form of the nominative plural of the word keychain was one - keyrings. This pronunciation and spelling is due to the French origin of the noun (French breloque). The variant with the loss of a vowel - key chains - was not allowed.

Only now it is more convenient for the language to change this word according to the familiar model, analogous to such examples as a bell - bells, a sock - socks, a lock - locks, a bag - sacks. So over time, the non-literary version became very common in colloquial speech and even began to supplant exemplary pronunciation.

Gradually, the norm softened so much that now the authoritative spelling dictionary of V. V. Lopatin already recognizes the Russian spelling dictionary of the Russian Academy of Sciences, both forms of the word are equal. Nevertheless, a number of reference books still retain the conservative position of the Russian word stress and consider the keychain option unacceptable in literary speech.

Subscribe to the free course of writing skills from the editors of Lifehacker "Initial" and the same name to become more literate and create good texts.