Editor's Corner

Dear Editrix,

My pet peeve is the phrase "these ones."

Where did this grammatically incorrect statement come from and how do we send it back?

Sandra

Dear Sandra,

I don’t hear this often, but when I do, it is usually from little kids. I thought it might just be something that we train kids not to say, but then I found a couple of articles about it, that show it is not technically wrong.

First, the articles mention that it is not grammatically wrong. Then they go on to say it is more common in the U.K. than in the U.S. Then they go even further and say acceptability depends on where you live in the U.S.

The overall message is that it is not wrong, but to many of us in the U.S. it is like fingernails on a chalkboard, and we feel the need to correct people when they say it. Here are portions of the articles that explain the use better than I can:

Grammarphobia

We live in Iowa and we’re bothered when we hear people say “these ones,” as in “Do you want these ones?” or “These ones are for sale.” Is this acceptable English?

Let’s begin by looking at the singular version: “this one.”

The main part (or head) of the phrase is “one” (an indefinite pronoun, not the number 1), modified by “this” (a demonstrative adjective). Together they form a noun phrase: “I like this one.”

Logically, the plural form of this noun phrase would be “these ones.” And logically, we can’t see any reason why this would be grammatically incorrect. “Which ones do I like? I like these ones.”

The chief argument against “these ones” is that “these” alone would suffice (“I like these”). But the same objection could be made against the singular form: Instead of “I like this one,” you could simply say “I like this.” So that argument isn’t convincing.

Now, we have to admit that to our ears “these ones” sounds like a childish usage. We never say or write “these ones” (or “those ones”). But our prejudice against it doesn’t make it grammatically incorrect…

Like many questions of English usage, this one has a fuzzy answer. We can’t find any evidence that “these ones” is grammatically incorrect. The only reason to discourage it is that many – perhaps most – Americans find it objectionable.

On revisiting the topic, Grammarphobia lets us know that it isn’t a particularly recent use. There are…”many formal and informal examples of ‘those ones’ going back to the 1600s, and of ‘these ones’ dating from the 1700s.”

As you can see, it’s still kind of a gray area. Nobody can really say it’s wrong, but I’m with you, Sandra: it sounds awful to me.

Kara Church | Technical Editor, Advisory

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