Spelling problem

I’m not sure if this is a global phenomenon, or simply limited to Melbn, but we have people who call themselves “emo”. They, you know, are like totally emotional. At least more so than everyone else, because they’re teenagers and anyone older than 20 (or who does not dress like a goth who dislikes lace) just totally does not understand the weight and depth of their emotions.

Been there, done that.

I have trouble with that word though. “Emo”. How does one pluralise it? One can talk of all those people hanging around the steps of Flinders Street Station, but as soon as there is more than one emo, the spelling gets difficult. So does walking up the stairs without laughing, but I digress.

One might think it’s correctly spelt “emos”, but adding the s makes the o react with the e, shortening it. Em-oss. No good. Unless you’re setting up some kind of Web 2.0 online moss selling site.

It’s certainly not “emo’s” with an apostrophe, because that makes it into a possessive: “the emo’s makeup was obviously purchased from the cheap arse bin at NQR and applied with a trowel”.

So perhaps one should use the “potato rule”, and add an e before the s. Therefore “emoes”. That just looks dumb. Any ideas, gentle readers? Maybe someone ought to ask Emo Phillips. Or Brian Eno.