Attornies or Attorneys: Which Spelling Is Correct?
The correct plural spelling is attorneys.
Attornies is a misspelling.
Use attorneys when you are talking about more than one attorney, lawyer, or legal professional.
Examples:
- The company hired two attorneys.
- Several attorneys reviewed the contract.
- The attorneys met with the judge.
- Criminal defense attorneys often handle complex cases.
The mistake usually happens because many English words ending in y change to ies in the plural. But attorney does not follow that pattern. The correct plural is attorneys, not attornies.
Quick Answer
Use attorneys.
Do not use attornies.
Correct:
- The case involved three attorneys.
Incorrect:
- The case involved three attornies.
The singular word is attorney. To make it plural, simply add s:
attorney + s = attorneys
What Does Attorney Mean?
An attorney is a person who is legally allowed to represent others in legal matters. In everyday American English, attorney and lawyer are often used in very similar ways.
Examples:
- She hired an attorney after the accident.
- The attorney prepared the legal documents.
- He spoke with his attorney before signing the agreement.
- The defense attorney questioned the witness.
When you are talking about more than one, use attorneys.
Examples:
- The firm has 20 attorneys.
- Both attorneys presented their arguments.
- The attorneys worked late to prepare for trial.
Why Is Attorneys Correct?
The word attorney ends in y, but the letter before the y is a vowel: e.
In English, when a word ends in a vowel + y, you usually keep the y and add s.
Examples:
- boy → boys
- key → keys
- monkey → monkeys
- attorney → attorneys
That is why the plural is attorneys, not attornies.
The ies rule usually applies when a word ends in a consonant + y.
Examples:
- city → cities
- baby → babies
- party → parties
- story → stories
In those words, the letter before y is a consonant. But in attorney, the letter before y is e, a vowel. So the spelling stays attorneys.
Why Is Attornies Wrong?
Attornies is wrong because it applies the y → ies rule where it does not belong.
The correct spelling is:
a-t-t-o-r-n-e-y-s
Not:
a-t-t-o-r-n-i-e-s
Even though attornies may look possible, it is not the standard plural form. In professional writing, legal writing, business writing, or search-friendly articles, attorneys is the spelling you should use.
Incorrect:
- The law firm employs experienced attornies.
Correct:
- The law firm employs experienced attorneys.
Attorneys vs Attorney’s
Do not confuse attorneys with attorney’s.
Attorneys is plural. It means more than one attorney.
Example:
- The attorneys met with the client.
Attorney’s is singular possessive. It means something belongs to one attorney.
Example:
- The attorney’s office is downtown.
If you mean more than one lawyer, do not use an apostrophe.
Correct:
- The firm hired three attorneys.
Incorrect:
- The firm hired three attorney’s.
Apostrophes show possession, not ordinary plurals.
Attorneys’ vs Attorney’s
There is also a plural possessive form: attorneys’.
Use attorneys’ when something belongs to multiple attorneys.
Examples:
- The attorneys’ offices are on the fifth floor.
- The judge reviewed the attorneys’ arguments.
- The attorneys’ fees were listed in the agreement.
Here is the difference:
Attorney = one legal professional
Attorneys = more than one legal professional
Attorney’s = belonging to one attorney
Attorneys’ = belonging to more than one attorney
Examples:
- One attorney handled the case.
- Two attorneys handled the case.
- The attorney’s client arrived early.
- The attorneys’ clients waited outside.
Attorney General or Attorneys General?
One special phrase can be confusing: attorney general.
The plural is usually attorneys general, not attorney generals.
Examples:
- Several state attorneys general joined the lawsuit.
- The attorneys general issued a joint statement.
This happens because attorney is the main noun, and general describes the type of attorney. So the plural s goes on attorney.
However, for the ordinary word attorney, the plural is simply attorneys.
How to Remember the Spelling
A simple memory trick:
Attorney ends with “ey,” so just add “s.”
Think of other ey words:
- key → keys
- donkey → donkeys
- valley → valleys
- attorney → attorneys
If a word ends in ey, the plural usually keeps the y and adds s.
So remember:
attorney + s = attorneys
Not:
attorney → attornies
Another helpful trick:
Attorneys keeps the “ney” sound.
The ending stays clear:
attor-ney-s
You do not need to change the y to ies.
Spelling Structure
The correct plural spelling is:
a-t-t-o-r-n-e-y-s
Break it into parts:
attorney + s
The incorrect spelling is:
attornies
That spelling changes the ending too much.
Correct:
- attorney
- attorneys
Incorrect:
- attorny
- attornies
- attornies’
If you are writing about legal professionals, the spelling you almost always want is attorneys.
Common Mistakes
Mistake 1: Writing attornies
Incorrect:
- The attornies reviewed the evidence.
Correct:
- The attorneys reviewed the evidence.
Mistake 2: Using an apostrophe for the plural
Incorrect:
- The company hired several attorney’s.
Correct:
- The company hired several attorneys.
Use no apostrophe for a regular plural.
Mistake 3: Confusing attorneys and attorneys’
Incorrect:
- The attorneys fees were too high.
Correct:
- The attorneys’ fees were too high.
If the fees belong to the attorneys, use the apostrophe after the s.
Mistake 4: Changing attorney to attornies because of “city/cities”
The rule for city → cities does not apply here.
City ends in consonant + y.
Attorney ends in vowel + y.
That is why the plural is attorneys.
Example Sentences With Attorneys
- The attorneys filed the motion on Monday.
- Both attorneys agreed to postpone the hearing.
- The law firm has experienced family law attorneys.
- The attorneys explained the settlement clearly.
- Several attorneys attended the conference.
- The judge asked the attorneys to approach the bench.
- Immigration attorneys often help clients prepare forms.
- The attorneys worked together on the case.
Final Answer: Attornies or Attorneys?
The correct plural spelling is attorneys.
Attornies is a misspelling.
Because attorney ends in ey, you keep the y and add s:
attorney + s = attorneys
Use attorneys when talking about more than one attorney. Use attorney’s for something belonging to one attorney, and attorneys’ for something belonging to multiple attorneys.
The safest spelling is always:
attorneys
Not:
attornies
