a plethora of

I think you can because it just means an excess of something. The language experts are welcome to correct me, but that is my understanding of the word.

I've never seen 'plethora' used with uncountable nouns.

As the word exists in other languages too, I agree that it should not be used with uncountable nouns..

uncountable nouns do not have plurals correct?

plethora--def. : a bodily condition characterized by an excess of blood and marked by turgescence and a florid complexion.

probably not the sense of the word we're concerned with here. "plethora" is another one of those words ESL teachers seem to come up with but that you will probably never hear anybody ever use in actual speech. People may have a rough idea what it means, but I don't think it's part of most people's speech vocabulary. I'd say you probably do have to use a count noun.

Maybe J meant plethera???

Well, you know I'm only a dilettante in English language (but a determined one).

I'd say that the answer to your question is yes, by the usual grammar rules.

However, consider the following:

- Water is uncountable, but you add an s as to form a plural: you are losing the waters, the waters of the deluge, I'll take the waters.

- People is uncountable but you can add an s: that ethnologist can identify many peoples.

- Coffee is uncountable but you can add an s: he took two coffees.

And so on...

More thoughtful stuff from Francis, always valuable.

I'd agree that plethora is used only with countable nouns.

And this reminds me of the following, wrt. "less" and "fewer"

Less bacon, fewer pigs.

Who's never heard the word "plethora" used in actual speech?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-mTUmczVdik

I use it.

Water is uncountable when it's uncountable and countable when it's countable, Francis. So only when it's being used as a countable do you add an s.

People is countable --> There are three people in the room. It doesn't normally need an s because it is already a plural form, an irregular one.

Coffee is also uncountable when it's uncountable and countable when it's countable. So only when it's being used as a countable do you add an s.

Two coffees/whiskies/beers/milks is really just a shortcut for Two cups of coffee/two shots of whiskey/ two bottles or pints of beer ... .

And three peoples is short for three discrete ethnic population groups.

Indeed.

That's what I meant..