RBI vs. RBIs = Plural of Runs Batted In

[JP golf]

So I was watching Mike and Mike a while back and the question came up about the plural use of Runs Batted In.  You wouldn't say "I had 5 Runs Batted Ins last night", you would say "I had 5 Runs Batted In last night".  Now when we use the acronym RBI it completely changes for most people.  Even I say "I have 5 RBIs last night".  Which is the proper way?  It's like fish vs. fish vs. fishes...  

Someone help me here lol...

[Missouri Swede]

Out of (near) complete ignorance, I will weigh in early agreeing with you:

Runs batted in
RBIs

And bonus points for not putting in an apostrophe!

[iacas]

Runs batted in = RBI

Miles per Hour = MPH

Not MPHs.

[Gunther]

RBIs or "ribbies" is the traditional term.  Technically it should be R'sBI but since we don't do that, I'll stick with the original.

Funny debate on this from time to time on my local sports talk station. Hosts are my age and hate the term RBI.  I'm not as opposed to it as they are but agree RBIs is proper.

[JP golf]

Runs batted in = RBI

Miles per Hour = MPH

Not MPHs.

Good point.  What about POWs though?  Prisoners of War = POWs

Man, this one has me pretty good.  I really don't know the right answer.  I was almost convinced it's RBI not RBIs.  I still kind of think RBI should be right (although, I still say RBIs out of habit). 

PS- I would never correct someone on this nor do I think it really matters- but I think it's a good question lol.

Edited October 22, 2015 by JP golf

[tristanhilton85]

Right or wrong, I say RBIs.

[Golfingdad]

The acronym is far more common than the spelled out word so there's nothing wrong with considering the acronym the singular.

RBIs is common and accepted.

[saevel25]

So it could be something like, Run(s) Batted In. 

I never really seen it written as RBI's. Even when they list all time or season leaders in RBI. I only see RBI not RBI's as the title of the column for that stat. 

[Golfingdad]

So it could be something like, Run(s) Batted In. 

I never really seen it written as RBI's. Even when they list all time or season leaders in RBI. I only see RBI not RBI's as the title of the column for that stat. 

You ever see HRs or Hs or Ks as a title for a column??  I don't think we're talking about box scores here, just speaking.

[iacas]

RBIs or "ribbies" is the traditional term.  Technically it should be R'sBI but since we don't do that, I'll stick with the original.

I don't agree… You and I can both go find instances where it's one or the other, but you don't just get to say that like it's a fact. There is no traditional term. Some people, some organizations, use RBI. Some use (incorrectly IMO) RBIs.

You can pluralize a slang saying for it (singular = "ribbie" and plural = "ribbies"), but that doesn't extend to the acronym version.

RBIs is common and accepted.

You also don't get to do that.

http://mlb.com/stats has RBI, BB, etc. And it's grammatically (or whatever this is) more correct. That's what I say. I also say "holes in one" and not "hole in ones."

The poll is also at 4 to 1 in favor of RBI.

[Abu3baid]

The question asks about the proper way, I don't care. lol

what I do know is that from the time I was young and playing baseball I have never thought twice when I heard people say "I had 5 RBIs yesterday" grammatically might not be correct, but that's how I use it and everyone pretty much I have played with did..

I don't think there is a right or wrong answer though, as I have no problem with someone saying I had 5 RBI.. It might just sound weird to me.  :)

[Gunther]

I don't agree… You and I can both go find instances where it's one or the other, but you don't just get to say that like it's a fact. There is no traditional term. Some people, some organizations, use RBI. Some use (incorrectly IMO) RBIs.

You can pluralize a slang saying for it (singular = "ribbie" and plural = "ribbies"), but that doesn't extend to the acronym version.

You also don't get to do that.

http://mlb.com/stats has RBI, BB, etc. And it's grammatically (or whatever this is) more correct. That's what I say. I also say "holes in one" and not "hole in ones."

The poll is also at 4 to 1 in favor of RBI.

OK,  I'll rephrase: RBIs is the way I grew up saying it.  Never heard the term RBI as plural until the last 20 years or so, and I played and watched a lot of baseball in my life.  

You can't quote TST polls as meaningful, especially when 5 people have voted.  Check it now.

There is no right answer so there's nothing to disagree with, I like the traditional pronunciation.

Edited October 22, 2015 by Gunther

[jamo]

I tend towards "RBI," but you can find grammatical examples on either side.

POWs, RPMs, as opposed to MPH. Etc.

[Golfingdad]

You also don't get to do that.

Sure I do.  I didn't say MORE common or MORE accepted. :P

[iacas]

You can't quote TST polls as meaningful, especially when 5 people have voted.  Check it now.

I didn't give much meaning to it. If you read any into my comment, that was your mistake.

There is no right answer so there's nothing to disagree with, I like the traditional pronunciation.

I can disagree that it's "traditional." And you're doing it again. It's not traditional. It's just what you think you grew up hearing.

Besides, even if it was "traditional," I tend to side with what's right.

[Gunther]

 

Besides, even if it was "traditional," I tend to side with what's right.

RsBI it is then.  Sounds a bit awkward to me so I'll stick with RBIs.  

[iacas]

RsBI it is then.

Nope.

MPH
RBI
RPM
BPM
BB
HR

[dkolo]

This site (http://www.grammarphobia.com/blog/2009/09/batting-practice.html) points out that the dictionary indicates RBI and RBIs to be acceptable, but that RBIs is preferred. I think the distinction in how it is perceived stems from whether the initialism is for a unit of measurement (e.g., MPH, RPM) or if it is short for a thing itself, of which there may be more than one (e.g., RBIs, POWs, HRs). Consequently, I don't have an issue with pluralizing the initialism. As for the labels of the columns in stat lines, I think they're referring with the initialism to the singular form; as in, this this the Run Batted In column, or the Home Run column, much as we talk about the Win column and not the Wins column in standings.