Euro in the plural (1)

Mark Mercieca (May 9) states that the plural of euro is euro. He also states that this is a "Maltese concoction".

I am afraid that Mr Mercieca is wrong, well partly wrong.

It is true that on official legal documents such as banknotes, euro and cent are used for both singular and plural, to maintain harmony throughout the EU (the same reason we have to use euro and not ewro on Maltese legal documents).

Correct English demands that euros and cents are used when speaking and on all other documents. This is also acknowledged by the European Commission: Guidelines on the use of the euro, issued via the Secretariat-General, state that the plurals of both euro and cent are to be written without "s" in English. "Do this when amending or referring to legal texts that themselves observe this rule.

"Elsewhere, and especially in documents intended for the general public, use the natural plural with 's' for both terms."

As Mr Mercieca may see for himself, this is not a Maltese concoction.