English is full of confusing plural forms cities, parties, bodies so it makes sense that many people wonder whether the plural of attorney is attornies or attorneys. The two words look like they follow the same rule, but only one spelling is correct, acceptable, and used in legal, academic, and professional writing.
Here’s the short answer:
✅ “Attorneys” is the correct spelling.
❌ “Attornies” is always incorrect.
But why? What grammar rule does attorney follow? Why does the plural act differently from words like city → cities?
In this detailed article, you’ll learn:
- The correct spelling and why it’s correct
- Why people mistakenly write attornies
- The grammar rules behind “attorneys”
- Real-world examples in sentences
- Common phrases with “attorney”
- Tips to remember the correct spelling
- Variations: attorney vs. lawyer vs. attorney-at-law
Let’s break it down in a simple, clear, and SEO-friendly way.
What Is the Correct Spelling Attornies or Attorneys?
The correct plural form is: attorneys
Attorney → Attorneys
This follows a straightforward rule:
➡️ Words ending in –ey add “s,” not “ies.”
Examples:
- key → keys
- donkey → donkeys
- valley → valleys
- turkey → turkeys
- attorney → attorneys
Because attorney ends in “–ney” (not “–ney” with a consonant + y), it keeps the -ey and simply adds -s.
❌ “Attornies” is grammatically incorrect
It is never used in professional legal writing and is not recognized as an acceptable variant in dictionaries, academic works, or legal documents.
Why Do People Mistakenly Write “Attornies”?
Many English learners — even native speakers — assume attorney behaves like:
- city → cities
- party → parties
- company → companies
These words follow the consonant + y → ies rule.
But attorney doesn’t fall into that category because:
- It ends with -ey, a vowel sound combination.
- Words ending in –ey always add s, not ies.
So, although “attornies” looks like it matches other patterns, it doesn’t follow the correct spelling rule.
This confusion is extremely common — especially among students, email writers, and content creators — which is why this clarification matters for professional communication.
Grammar Rule Behind “Attorneys”
Here’s the rule that governs the spelling:
Plural Rule for Words Ending in -ey
If a word ends in -ey, simply add -s to make it plural.
This rule applies regardless of the letter before “ey.”
Examples:
| Singular | Plural |
|---|---|
| attorney | attorneys |
| alley | alleys |
| monkey | monkeys |
| hockey | hockeys |
| chimney | chimneys |
This makes attorneys the only correct form.
Definition of “Attorney”
An attorney is a professionally trained and licensed legal representative who is authorized to:
- advise clients on legal matters
- draft legal documents
- represent clients in court
- negotiate settlements
- interpret and apply the law
In the U.S., “attorney” is more common than “solicitor” or “barrister” (used in the UK and other Commonwealth countries).
Examples of “Attorneys” in Sentences
Here are clear examples to show how to use the word correctly:
- The company hired two attorneys to handle the merger.
- Attorneys must complete years of legal education and pass the bar exam.
- Both attorneys presented strong arguments before the judge.
- She consulted several attorneys before signing the contract.
- The law firm employs over 150 attorneys across multiple states.
These examples show that “attorneys” fits naturally in professional and legal contexts.
Common Phrases With “Attorney”
Knowing how the word is used in real-world terms helps avoid mistakes.
Popular professional phrases
- attorney at law
- district attorney
- defense attorney
- prosecuting attorney
- estate planning attorney
- attorney-client privilege
- power of attorney
- attorney general (plural: attorneys general)
Notice that some phrases behave uniquely:
Plural of “Attorney General”
Correct: Attorneys General
Incorrect: Attorney Generals
Because “attorney” is the main noun and “general” is an adjective.
Attorney vs. Lawyer — What’s the Difference?
Many people use the two terms interchangeably, but here’s the clearer distinction:
Lawyer
- Anyone who has a law degree (JD, LLB, etc.)
- Not necessarily licensed to practice in court.
Attorney
- A lawyer who passed the bar exam.
- Licensed to represent clients in court.
- Legally authorized to practice law.
Every attorney is a lawyer, but not every lawyer is an attorney.
Why Spelling “Attorneys” Correctly Matters
Using an incorrect spelling like “attornies” can:
❌ Make emails look unprofessional
❌ Harm credibility in legal or business settings
❌ Create errors in contracts or official documents
❌ Reduce trust in published content or SEO articles
For legal professions — where accuracy is critical — correct spelling reflects attention to detail and professional competence.
Examples of Incorrect Usage (and Corrections)
Here’s a quick list to reinforce the correct form:
| Incorrect | Correct |
|---|---|
| Many attornies attended the conference. | Many attorneys attended the conference. |
| She hired two attornies for the case. | She hired two attorneys for the case. |
| The attornies were reviewing the contract. | The attorneys were reviewing the contract. |
How to Remember the Correct Spelling
Use one of these simple memory tricks:
1. “Attorney” ends in –ey → add s
If it ends in -ey, never change the “y.” Just add s.
2. Think of “money → moneys”
Words ending in ey keep their ending.
3. Use this phrase:
“There are many attorneys with money.”
Both end in –eys.
4. The incorrect form “attornies” looks awkward
If it looks wrong, it is wrong.
This ensures strong semantic coverage and enhanced search visibility.
Summary Table: Attornies vs Attorneys
| Feature | “Attornies” | “Attorneys” |
|---|---|---|
| Correct spelling | ❌ No | ✅ Yes |
| Appears in dictionaries? | ❌ No | ✅ Yes |
| Used in professional legal writing? | ❌ No | ✅ Yes |
| Follows English spelling rules? | ❌ No | ✅ Yes |
| Accepted plural form? | ❌ No | Plural of attorney |
Final Verdict: Always Use “Attorneys”
To summarize:
- “Attornies” is always incorrect.
- “Attorneys” is the only correct, professional, and accepted plural.
- It follows the –ey → +s pluralization rule.
- Using the wrong spelling can harm credibility, especially in legal contexts.
Whenever you refer to more than one attorney, use:
➡️ Correct: Attorneys
❌ Incorrect: Attornies
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