# Difference between singularized symbol and pluralized symbol

**URL:** <https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/difference-between-singularized-symbol-and-pluralized-symbol/182592>\
**Category:** Rails\
**Created:** [January 30, 2010, 3:48pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/difference-between-singularized-symbol-and-pluralized-symbol/182592 "2010-01-30T15:48:35Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![jmaenpaa](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/j/9de053/32.png) [@jmaenpaa](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/jmaenpaa)\
**Post date:** [January 30, 2010, 3:48pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/difference-between-singularized-symbol-and-pluralized-symbol/182592/1 "2010-01-30T15:48:35Z")

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Hey all,

Does anyone know the difference between a singularized symbol  
(:student\_state) and a pluralized symbol (:student\_states). How can they  
be used differently. Thanks for suggestions.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![jmaenpaa](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/j/9de053/32.png) [@jmaenpaa](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/jmaenpaa)\
**Post date:** [January 30, 2010, 6:09pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/difference-between-singularized-symbol-and-pluralized-symbol/182592/2 "2010-01-30T18:09:57Z")

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John M. wrote:

> Hey all,
> 
> Does anyone know the difference between a singularized symbol  
> (:student\_state) and a pluralized symbol (:student\_states). How can they  
> be used differently. Thanks for suggestions.

They’re completely different symbols. What are you really trying to  
ask?

## Best,

Marnen Laibow-Koser  
[http://www.marnen.org](http://www.marnen.org)  
removed\_email\_address@domain.invalid

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![jmaenpaa](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/j/9de053/32.png) [@jmaenpaa](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/jmaenpaa)\
**Post date:** [January 30, 2010, 8:50pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/difference-between-singularized-symbol-and-pluralized-symbol/182592/3 "2010-01-30T20:50:18Z")

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Marnen Laibow-Koser wrote:

> John M. wrote:
> 
> > Hey all,
> > 
> > Does anyone know the difference between a singularized symbol  
> > (:student\_state) and a pluralized symbol (:student\_states). How can they  
> > be used differently. Thanks for suggestions.
> 
> They’re completely different symbols. What are you really trying to  
> ask?
> 
> ## Best,
> 
> Marnen Laibow-Koser  
> [http://www.marnen.org](http://www.marnen.org)  
> removed\_email\_address@domain.invalid

If one stemmed from this: StudentState.name.tableize and then was  
converted to a symbol (:student\_states) and the other stemmed from this:  
StudentState.name.underscore and then was converted to a symbol  
(:student\_state). StudentState is the model. I see this done all the  
time. I’m just curious of what different functionality the two provide.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![jmaenpaa](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/j/9de053/32.png) [@jmaenpaa](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/jmaenpaa)\
**Post date:** [January 31, 2010, 1:52am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/difference-between-singularized-symbol-and-pluralized-symbol/182592/4 "2010-01-31T01:52:10Z")

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John M. wrote:

> Marnen Laibow-Koser wrote:
> 
> > John M. wrote:
> > 
> > > Hey all,
> > > 
> > > Does anyone know the difference between a singularized symbol  
> > > (:student\_state) and a pluralized symbol (:student\_states). How can they  
> > > be used differently. Thanks for suggestions.
> > 
> > They’re completely different symbols. What are you really trying to  
> > ask?
> > 
> > ## Best,
> > 
> > Marnen Laibow-Koser  
> > [http://www.marnen.org](http://www.marnen.org)  
> > removed\_email\_address@domain.invalid
> 
> If one stemmed from this: StudentState.name.tableize and then was  
> converted to a symbol (:student\_states) and the other stemmed from this:  
> StudentState.name.underscore and then was converted to a symbol  
> (:student\_state). StudentState is the model. I see this done all the  
> time. I’m just curious of what different functionality the two provide.

Symbols don’t provide functionality. They’re just data.

## Best,

Marnen Laibow-Koser  
[http://www.marnen.org](http://www.marnen.org)  
removed\_email\_address@domain.invalid