A tweet from an Apple executive unexpectedly answered a small grammatical problem that troubled many users. This question is how to accurately pronounce the names of multiple Apple products when we have them.
The Plural Puzzle of Product Names
In April 2016, Phil Schiller, Apple's senior vice president of marketing, responded to a question on Twitter. At the time, analyst Benedict Evans sparked a discussion by using the expression "iPads Pro" in a podcast subtitle. People began to wonder how to write and pronounce the plural form of Apple products, which is directly related to the accuracy of daily communication.
Schiller's response was crystal clear, stating that users don't actually need to add plural suffixes to Apple product names. What he said about this situation is this: There is no need to add plural expressions to Apple's product names. He used the example of Mr. Evans using two iPad Pros as an illustration, emphasizing that the product name itself is a quantifier unit and its presentation form should not change.
Schiller's official answer
In a subsequent tweet, Schiller gave a specific demonstration. He corrected that the statement "I have 2 iPad Pros" is incorrect. The correct expression should be "I have 2 iPad Pro devices", or, more simply, "I have 2 iPad Pros". This shows that the full name of the product "iPad Pro" is regarded as a complete and indivisible title.
For another product line, Schiller also gave a similar explanation. He claimed that stating "I own 3 MacBooks" or "I own 3 MacBook computers" were appropriate statements. Here, when it is extremely critical, the "s" of the plural meaning should be added to the quantifier "台", or presented with the help of context and quantifiers, rather than changing the name of the product "MacBook" itself.
Apple's style insistence
However, in contrast to Schiller's clear explanation on his personal social account, Apple often uses more cautious wording in its official copy. In press releases and official materials, Apple generally uses the slightly lengthy but absolutely unambiguous expression "multiple iPad Pro devices." This shows that large companies adhere to language standardization when communicating externally.
Even if the outside world sometimes interprets this persistence as stubbornness, Apple has a strict set of guidelines for the use of its brand and product names. Any public expression must be consistent with its brand image, so even a simple plural question appears extremely serious in the official context, and any usage that may cause misunderstanding is not allowed.
The positive side of executive interaction
Schiller's interactive behavior this time is worthy of attention, regardless of the grammatical rules themselves. As Apple's senior vice president, he used his personal Twitter to directly answer users' questions. This was an informal communication, which was not common at the time. It made fans and developers feel a sense of intimacy and witnessed a more personalized side of Apple executives besides public speeches.
This kind of interaction not only answers specific questions, but also becomes an effective way to obtain information. It shortens the distance between brands and users and makes cold technology companies appear more "human". In terms of building brand loyalty, this seemingly small interaction has a positive value that cannot be ignored.
Cross-linguistic cultural thinking
When you examine this issue in the Chinese context, you will find that things become much simpler. Chinese grammar itself does not use morphological changes to express plurals. We rely on quantifiers. For example, just say "I have two iPad Pros" without having to worry about whether to add "s" after "iPad". This avoids the unique troubles in English.
On the contrary, this demonstrates some of the convenient features of Chinese in terms of expression. We do not need to worry about the plural form of nouns. The language structure itself avoids this difficulty. From this perspective, the English rules explained by Schiller are more like an interesting linguistic observation for Chinese users than a practical problem that needs to be strictly followed.
The actual meaning of correct expression
I would like to ask, in real life, is it necessary for us to follow the rules given by Schiller so strictly? As far as most daily conversations and informal situations are concerned, even if you say "I bought two iPhones", others will definitely understand you. The primary function of language is communication, and minor grammatical flaws are usually tolerated as long as the message is conveyed accurately.
However, when writing formally, and within the scope of technical documentation, or for advertising copy created for the global market, it is of great significance to follow the naming conventions established by Apple. This allows the information to be rigorous and professional, thereby preventing confusion for readers or partners. Knowing these rules will help us choose more appropriate and accurate expressions in different situations.
For those of you who are technology enthusiasts, or who always have to discuss Apple products, have you ever hesitated for a moment about how to describe multiple Apple products when speaking or writing? You are welcome to share your experiences or opinions in the comment area. If you feel that this article has clarified a little confusion, please give it a like and support!
