http://www.englishforums.com/English/EslGeneralEnglishGrammar-Questions/Forum12.htmAsk your questions on grammar and get your sentence checked. We answer lots of different types of general English grammar questions here. <font color=red>DO NOT post paragraphs and compositions here. Post them in our <a href="http://www.englishforums.com/English/EssayReportCompositionWriting/Forum9.htm"><b>Essay, Report and Composition Writing Forum</b></a>.</font>enXMOD (Build: 3616.28671)http://www.englishforums.com/English/ConstituentNounsCompound-Nouns/zpdwr/post.htm#492307Mon, 26 Jan 2009 10:16:39 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:492307CalifJim0http://www.englishforums.com/English/ConstituentNounsCompound-Nouns/zpdwr/post.htm#492307http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments12-492307.xmlThe singular is used in these cases, even when it may mean something plural. Use file management system even if the system manages more than one file (as they almost always do). CJhttp://www.englishforums.com/English/ConstituentNounsCompound-Nouns/zpdwr/post.htm#492306Sun, 26 Apr 2009 09:16:39 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:492306Infinik1http://www.englishforums.com/English/ConstituentNounsCompound-Nouns/zpdwr/post.htm#492306http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments12-492306.xmlJust thought of a third option, which is quite common too: file management system (i.e. without hyphen)http://www.englishforums.com/English/ConstituentNounsCompound-Nouns/zpdwr/post.htmSun, 26 Apr 2009 09:16:39 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:492303Infinik2http://www.englishforums.com/English/ConstituentNounsCompound-Nouns/zpdwr/post.htmhttp://www.englishforums.com/English/comments12-492303.xmlHi, grammar experts Got a question on compound nouns, particular the effect of singularity of one of/each constituent nouns in the compound noun: would the following two be different in meanings? file-management system files-management system Plus, if one of these is (or both can be?) meant to describe a system that manipulates lots of files in a digital environment, then which one(s)? infinik