Feedback or feedbacks: singular or plural?

[Konstantin]

Dear friends!
When I prepare scientific papers, I often encounter difficulties in using notion "feedback" in plural form. I mean the use of this word in the phrases like "system with feedback", "system of feedback", "structure of feedback" and so on. In our language the word "feedback" sounds literally as "inverse tie" and can be used in both plural and singular forms as well. In contrast, as far as I know, in English the plural form is not quite correct:
1. Most dictionaries contain only singular form.
2. Most spellcheck systems highlight an error on "feedbacks", etc.

Nevertheless, the plural form is seldom encountered in texts. With the help of my own corpora of scientific papers and books (hundreds of titles) I estimated the use of both forms. The singular form is about 25 times more frequent.

Please, suggest me, if the "feedbacks" is correct? If so, can I write something like:

The feedback (A) of the system supports homeostasis, the feedback (B) -- a reproduction rate, both feedbacks (???) have the property...?


Regards,
Konstantin



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[Bill Kelly]

In English, "feedback" is historically an uncountable noun. Up until
recently at least, not only could you not say "feedbacks", but also you
could not say "a feedback". It must be: "We got some feedback from the
system", not "We got a feedback from the system".

In your example, I would write: "... both instances of feedback have the
property that ..."

Bill Kelly
Connecticut USA

Post by Konstantin
Dear friends!
When I prepare scientific papers, I often encounter difficulties in
using notion "feedback" in plural form. I mean the use of this word in
the phrases like "system with feedback", "system of feedback",
"structure of feedback" and so on. In our language the word "feedback"
sounds literally as "inverse tie" and can be used in both plural and
singular forms as well. In contrast, as far as I know, in English the
1. Most dictionaries contain only singular form.
2. Most spellcheck systems highlight an error on "feedbacks", etc.
Nevertheless, the plural form is seldom encountered in texts. With the
help of my own corpora of scientific papers and books (hundreds of
titles) I estimated the use of both forms. The singular form is about
25 times more frequent.
The feedback (A) of the system supports homeostasis, the feedback (B)
-- a reproduction rate, both feedbacks (???) have the property...?
Regards,
Konstantin

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]



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[Bill Kelly]

I would like to correct my earlier post as follows:

In English, "feedback" is historically an uncountable noun. Up until
recently at least, not only could you not say "feedbacks", but also you
could not say "a feedback". It must be: "We got (some) feedback from the
system", not "We got a feedback from the system".

In your example, I would write: "... feedback in both instances has the
property that ..."

In English, "feedback" is historically an uncountable noun. Up until
recently at least, not only could you not say "feedbacks", but also you
could not say "a feedback". It must be: "We got some feedback from the
system", not "We got a feedback from the system".
In your example, I would write: "... both instances of feedback have the
property that ..."
Bill Kelly
Connecticut USA

Post by Konstantin
Dear friends!
When I prepare scientific papers, I often encounter difficulties in
using notion "feedback" in plural form. I mean the use of this word in
the phrases like "system with feedback", "system of feedback",
"structure of feedback" and so on. In our language the word "feedback"
sounds literally as "inverse tie" and can be used in both plural and
singular forms as well. In contrast, as far as I know, in English the
1. Most dictionaries contain only singular form.
2. Most spellcheck systems highlight an error on "feedbacks", etc.
Nevertheless, the plural form is seldom encountered in texts. With the
help of my own corpora of scientific papers and books (hundreds of
titles) I estimated the use of both forms. The singular form is about
25 times more frequent.
The feedback (A) of the system supports homeostasis, the feedback (B)
-- a reproduction rate, both feedbacks (???) have the property...?
Regards,
Konstantin

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]



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[Konstantin]

Dear Bill!
Thanks for your comprehensive comment on issue of using "feedback" notion. After search in the Internet resources I've discovered, that all the same the forms like "a feedback" are very seldom encountered. Also the form "feedbacks" is presented in scientific texts. But these cases of using irregular forms are very seldom. Maybe, they are initiated by non-native speakers, as me. Plural form, indeed, is expressed by the word "instance", e. g. in the following sentence: "In both instances, feedback is used to heighten a...".

In any case, your explanation is very valuable.

Regards,
Konstantin
====================

Post by Bill Kelly
In English, "feedback" is historically an uncountable noun. Up until
recently at least, not only could you not say "feedbacks", but also you
could not say "a feedback". It must be: "We got (some) feedback from the
system", not "We got a feedback from the system".
In your example, I would write: "... feedback in both instances has the
property that ..."

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