Yesterday during Sunday dinner the question came up of how to conjugate the plural of the term, Book of Mormon. The question was, would it be Book of Mormons, or Books of Mormon. I did some research to support my position (Books of Mormon). I can't imagine this would be interesting to anyone else, but I'm kind of weird this way so I'm posting it anyway..
The answer centers on the fact that it is incorrect to call someone, or something, by an adjective or a modifier. Fowler's Modern English Usage explains that compound words and phrases "ordinarily form their plurals logically, by attaching the -s to the noun element in them." Accordingly, as the phrase, of Mormon, modifies the noun, Book, you have Books of Mormon. Even though the complete term would be considered the subject or an object of a sentence (hence the argument for Book of Mormons), of Mormon modifies the, or explains what type of, book you're talking about. Since it retains its status as an adjective, it derives its plural nature from the noun it is dependent on. For the same reason, you also have attorneys general, solicitors general, surgeons general, brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, etc.
In any event, Adam still still came up with the best answer of the night. Copies of the Book of Mormon.
mw
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