When do we use “Interaction‎s” (plural of Interaction‎)

singular-vs-pluralusage

Is there any rule about when you should use "interaction‎" and when you should use "interaction‎s"?
And if there isn't, can you give me examples in which "interaction‎s" should be used?
Thanks in advance.

Best Answer

I can see why you are wondering.

An interaction necessarily implies at least two persons, animals, events, etc.

The interaction between the British and American governments on how best to defeat Nazi Germany was not free from friction, but may have experienced less friction than any other war-time coalition in history.

There were two parties, but a single pair during a single period for a single purpose. So it is viewed as a single interaction.

The interactions between the English and Dutch governments during the seventeenth century, ranging from warring enemies to close allies, were so variable because the governments were pushed apart by trade and colonial rivalries and pulled together by first Spanish and then French expansionism.

Here we use a plural because, despite the fact that we are discussing a single period and a single pair, we are contrasting opposite types of interaction.

In other words, whether singular or plural is used depends in large part on whether similarities or differences are the topic.

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