Bowlsful/ bowlfuls

Then it would be cupsful. !!!!!

Bowlsful is historically correct but bowlfuls has become quite commonplace. Language changes. I loathe 'mitigate against' but it has now become so universal I wouldn't bother commenting.

Could it depend on context? Is there such a thing as a bowlful, like a teaspoonful, to denote a measure of quantity (pl. bowlfuls)? Or are we talking about dishing out cereal to a number of people at breakfast (pl. bowlsful)?

Two problems with this. 1. Have I got them the right way round. 2. Would it ever be possible to get usefully wide acceptance of this distinction?

BlueBelle

Bowlfuls for me or ‘three bowls full’

That’s it. Defo.

Bowlsful... I base my answer on the precedent of
Yes, sir! Yes, sir! Three bags full.
From BaaBaa Black Sheep 🐑 🤣

MaizieD I always write 'all right' rather than 'al.....' (nearly caught myself out there!); but I accept that language has changed. I don't say 'right now' instead of 'now', but also accept the change. My 100 year old mother visibly shudders on hearing it though!

I don't usually split an infinitive either, but know that that is very old fashioned nowadays.

Bowlsful is historically correct but English is a living language so bowlfuls may come to be the correct answer in due course.

But would you say mouthsful? Surely it is mouthfuls.
MaizieD I was always taught it was all right and not alright and I always keep to that.

I'd say mouths full if it was more than one mouth and mouthful if one mouth Greenfinch.

ThanksSmileless but to me they have different meanings. Mouths full suggests three mouths belonging to three different people eg they spoke with their mouths full.😄

You were correct -bowlsful .

I don't want to be pedantic , but I would have written :
he drank three bowlsful of soup .

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

It's quite a famous quote Justwidowed

My spell check and Britannica Dictionary give the plural of bowlful as bowlfuls, but I do think that it's more common to say bowlsful.

And Granmarie, I started singing that rhyme in my head as well!

As for the weekend, I would say 'on the weekend' the same as you would say 'on Saturday and Sunday'.

Well, Bowlsful sounds correct to me.
Bowlfuls doesn’t seem to trip off the tongue, somehow. I suppose language is always evolving, though.