Note to Wikipedia and Encyclopaedia Britannica

I just unearthed a big problem at Wikipedia.org, the encyclopedia written, discussed and rewritten by people who (like the citizens of WebcamMurder.com) live their lives on the Internet.

Two problems, actually, the second being that I found no reference at all to Film Sleepy. It’s the newest movie genre, admittedly, but, while one might forgive this omission by the deadline plagued Encyclopaedia Britannica, it is it’s harder to accept it from a volume under constant and immediate revision.

I did find Film Noir, as I knew I would, and that article and discussion led to the revelation of the main problem—what is the plural of Film Sleepy? For Film Noir, there were several votes: Films Noirs, Film Noirs and Films Noir. The non-French speaking commentators went back and forth on what they guessed is correct in French, how that affects (or differs from) what is correct in English…and even went on to argue whether Film Noir (singular) is a genre or merely a style.

All of which makes me nervous about leaving such issues to the whim of Wikipedia and other readers, writers and filmgoers. Film Sleepy is certainly a genre, since it puts the audience to sleep and other genres don’t. It doesn’t even have (or need) a style. But it will need a plural as soon as more than one Film Sleepy exists, and, considering that it will surely be as popular in France as Jerry Lewis, I briefly considered going with the (non-French speaking) majority at the Wikipedia who believed Films Noirs to be correct en français. However, that would make Films Sleepies the proper plural, and I simply can’t allow it. Film Sleepies isn’t much better, so I am stating for the record that Films Sleepy is the correct plural.

Wikipedia—and Encyclopaedia Britannica—take note.