Learn English – The use of “Nos.” for multiple objects

abbreviations

I noticed a string on a similar question that is now closed; I would like your input on a specific problem that has puzzled me.

At my publishing company, people are fond of writing, e.g., "Law Nos. 1 through 5" to describe, collectively, five separate laws enumerated 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5.

To me, this seems incorrect.

Using "Nos." in the above manner seems, literally, to mean "Law Numbers 1 through 5", but the phrase "Law Nos. 1 through 5" does not describe one law with five different numbers, nor does it describe numbers in the abstract. The intended reference is to five different laws that are separately enumerated.

Another way to express the matter in words is "Laws Numbered 1-5"; from this, it seems more correct to abbreviate the matter as "Laws No. 1-5".

I am curious about other ways to look at this problem.

Thanks and regards,

q.b.

Best Answer

Nos. is an abbreviation for numbers. Consider the difference between "law numbers 1 through 5" and "laws numbered 1 through 5".