getPluralString() method

public static final List plural_NOT_REQD;
// for words whose singular equals plural, add in lowercase
static {
plural_NOT_REQD = new ArrayList();
plural_NOT_REQD.add("status");
}

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/**
* Returns the plural form of the words passed to it
*
* @param singular
* form of the word
* @return the plural form
*/
public static String getPluralString(String singular) {

String plural = singular;
int length = singular.length();
if (length <>
return plural;
if (plural_NOT_REQD.contains(singular.toLowerCase()))
plural = singular;
else if (singular.charAt(length - 1) == 's' || singular.endsWith("sh")
|| singular.endsWith("ch")
|| singular.charAt(length - 1) == 'x'
|| singular.charAt(length - 1) == 'z')
plural = plural + "es";
else if (singular.charAt(length - 1) == 'y') {
if (singular.charAt(length - 2) == 'a'
|| singular.charAt(length - 2) == 'e'
|| singular.charAt(length - 2) == 'i'
|| singular.charAt(length - 2) == 'o'
|| singular.charAt(length - 2) == 'u')
plural = plural + "s";
else
plural = plural.substring(0, length - 1) + "ies";
} else if (singular.charAt(length - 1) == 'f')
plural = plural.substring(0, length - 1) + "ves";
else if (singular.endsWith("fe"))
plural = plural.substring(0, length - 2) + "ves";
else
plural = plural + "s";
return plural;
}