In a recent comment, Andy Bechtel of The Editor's Desk asked what the plural of hit-and-run is. So I got to digging around and . . . I don't know. Webster's doesn't specify a plural for hit-and-run. Neither does the American Heritage. My usual suspects (Fowler, Garner, and Bryson) are silent on the issue.
I think it must be hit-and-runs purely because hits-and-run sounds ridiculous. Then again, I prefer men-of-war to man-of-wars, so I'm not being consistent, and you should take what I say with a grain of salt.
What say you?
I vote for "hit-and-run incidents". When in doubt, write around the problem.
Posted by: Megan | March 31, 2009 at 08:05 PM
I believe that when a dictionary does not specify the inflectional forms of a word, it means that the inflections are entirely regular. Thus you can assume that the plural of hit-and-run, according to both AHD and M-w, is hit-and-runs.
Posted by: Jonathon | April 01, 2009 at 12:51 AM
If it were me, I think I'd go the safe route--I'd say "hit-and-run accidents." Slightly redundant, yeah, but it doesn't sound awkward like the other choices do. If I HAD to pick one of those two choices, though, I think I'd grudgingly go with "hit-and-runs"... :)
Posted by: The Grammarphile | April 01, 2009 at 02:21 AM
I agree with adding a noun if it needs a plural. Hit-and-run is really a description of something, right? Hit-and-run crimes, hit and run grammar corrections, hit and run pie attacks.
Of course there's always "she hits and runs" but that sounds like a fleet of foot heroin addict.
Posted by: Janet Reid | April 01, 2009 at 11:50 AM
Dear Janet,
Mmmmmm . . . Pie . . .
:)
-Ed.
Posted by: Editrix | April 01, 2009 at 03:08 PM
Thanks, Editrix, and to everyone who helped answer this question.
I will keep writing around it.
Posted by: Andy Bechtel | April 02, 2009 at 12:44 PM
Sorry to join the party late, but I'd also opt for 'hit-and-runs'. Oh, and I found this headline:
http://danrogerson.org/2006/12/07/mps-alarm-at-appalling-rise-in-hit-and-runs/
Posted by: JD (The Engine Room) | April 05, 2009 at 11:38 AM
Hits-and-runs should be a choice.
Posted by: GodIsMyCoDependent | April 07, 2009 at 08:50 AM
Hit-and-runs: one hit, multiple runs (hit once, drove around the block a couple of times to check out the damage).
Hits-and-run: when you hit someone and then back up a couple of times to make sure you got 'em.
Posted by: Helen | May 09, 2009 at 01:49 PM