Milk from a cow/cows

[BloodshotEyeballsintheScarySky]

Just wondered

I can't wait till DD is 12 months and able to drink cow's milk or cows' milk?

cows' milk. (unless it is from one specific cow, perhaps one you own, in that case it would definitely be cow's milk)

Hmm, DH and I were split on that one. I said plural, he said singular. I haven't got a cow unfortunately. If I did I'd keep it next to my bed and have warm milk at whatever time of night!

lol. I have been on your other thread earlier I think!

Yes, I imagine you buy your cows' milk from the local shop/milkman which will have come from a number of animals, therefore it is definitely plural.

p.s. tell your dh from me it is his turn tonight to get up to the lo!

Do you know what, I was just reading a book on English grammar and language which came free with the Guardian a while ago and it had precisely this example in the section on apostrophes. According to the Guardian, it should be 'cow's milk' and 'goat's cheese'. I'm not saying you're wrong, I just thought I'd pass on this contentious nugget of information!

I would have thought it would be "cow's" because you're not talking about the specific animal it came from so much as the type of milk it is. So perhaps we should actually call it "cow milk" in the same way that we might say "human milk/breast milk".

When I'm earning an honest crust it's as a Food & Nutrition teacher so, in the interests of accuracy and fair play, I conducted some research ( sad person that I am ).

My many and various books - going back over quite a time - say cow's / cows' and, even, milk of cows! Not much help, eh?

OTOH it permits some laissez faire which can be a relief for a pedant sometimes.

"Ah, Milkman, good morning! I'd like a pint of the, milk of cows please."

I can't wait for tomorrow now.