Passerbyers, Passersby, or Passerby? Which Is Correct 

When I first started studying irregular plurals, I realized that mastering Passerbyers, Passersby, or Passerby? Which Is Correct is crucial for clear, precise, and professional writing. Even seasoned professionals, writers, and editors pause mid-sentence, wondering which form is right. Managing business, projects, meetings, tasks, and communication requires choosing the correct plural so your grammar, clarity, and consistency remain intact. Scheduling appointments, posting updates on online platforms, broadcasting, and booking through a calendar or email all demand understanding the nuances to save time, maintain credibility, and write in formal or casual contexts without mistakes.

To make these tricky plurals easier, I like to break down the differences with practical guidance and follow style guides from US and UK English. Paying attention to regional preferences, rules, and actionable tips helps keep your writing proper, precise, and professional. Understanding time management, project coordination, and the needs of readers allows you to confidently navigate tricky forms, making your text read smoothly while staying grammatically correct.

A passerby is literally someone who passes by, usually walking outside a store or somewhere else. The plural passersby is the correct formation, while passerbyers is an incorrect alternative that appears occasionally. Misusing these forms can create awkward sentences, but knowing the pattern helps you use them confidently. Watching someone hesitate while writing or passing by, I’ve realized that even common English mistakes can be avoided with practical guidance, awareness of grammar rules, and experience, allowing students, professionals, and writers to master these irregular plurals with clarity and authority.

What Does “Passerby” Actually Mean?

In its simplest form, “passerby” means a person who happens to be passing by. It refers to someone who is not staying or involved but just moving past a scene, person, or event.

Think of a passerby as a neutral observer — someone present only for a moment.

Examples:

• “A passerby called for help when they saw smoke coming from the building.”
• “Every passerby smiled at the street musician.”

Grammar Type: Noun
Part of Speech: Singular compound noun
Pronunciation: /ˈpæsərˌbaɪ/
Meaning: Someone who passes by or walks past something or someone.

Etymology

The term “passerby” comes from combining two elements:

• Passer (someone who passes)
• By (a preposition meaning near or beside)

So, quite literally, a “passerby” is a person passing by.

This structure is what makes it special — and why its plural behaves differently than you might expect.

Why “Passerbyers” Is Never Correct

Let’s clear the air right away: “passerbyers” is grammatically incorrect. It’s one of those invented plural forms that sound logical but break actual English rules.

Here’s why it’s wrong:

“Passerby” is a compound noun, made up of two parts — passer and by. Only one of those parts is a noun: passer. The second word, by, is a preposition.

When you pluralize a compound noun, you pluralize the main noun, not the preposition or the entire phrase.

So, the plural is “passersby”, not passerbyers or passerbys.

Grammar Breakdown

Incorrect Form	Why It’s Wrong	Correct Form	Explanation
Passerbyers	Adds an unnecessary extra suffix	Passersby	Only the noun “passer” takes the plural
Passerbys	Pluralizes the entire compound incorrectly	Passersby	Preposition “by” stays the same
Passerbies	Misunderstands the word structure	Passersby	Only main noun changes

Think of It Like This

You wouldn’t say:

• ❌ Runnerbyers
• ❌ Goerbyers
• ❌ Passerbyers

Why? Because -er already means “one who”. Adding -er again (as in “byers”) is redundant and grammatically off.

Quick Tip:
If you’re ever tempted to say “passerbyers,” just remember — English doesn’t double up on “doers.” You already have “passer,” which means someone doing the action.

Correct Plural Form: “Passersby” Explained

Now that we’ve ruled out the wrong versions, let’s unpack the right one: passersby.

In English, compound nouns can be pluralized in a few different ways depending on their structure. “Passerby” follows the same pattern as a handful of unique compounds that pluralize the first word instead of the last.

Rule: Pluralize the Main Noun

When a compound noun consists of a noun + preposition, make the noun plural — not the preposition.

Formula:
[Main noun] + [preposition] → pluralize the main noun

So:
passer + by → passersby

More Examples Like “Passersby”

Singular	Plural	Explanation
Attorney general	Attorneys general	The word “attorney” is the main noun
Mother-in-law	Mothers-in-law	“Mother” is pluralized, not “law”
Brother-in-arms	Brothers-in-arms	Same rule applies
Looker-on	Lookers-on	“Looker” is pluralized
Passerby	Passersby	“Passer” is pluralized

This rule keeps the meaning consistent. The core idea — “those who pass by” — remains intact.

Example Sentences:

• “Several passersby stopped to take photos.”
• “Two passersby called the police immediately.”

Memory Trick:

“Put the ‘s’ where the action is.”

Since the passer is the one doing the action, that’s where the plural belongs.

When and How to Use the Singular “Passerby”

Use “passerby” whenever you’re referring to one person passing by — not a group. It’s typically used in narration, observation, or description.

Examples:

• “A single passerby noticed the lost wallet.”
• “The passerby looked confused but kind.”
• “No passerby saw what happened.”

When to Use It

You’ll often see “passerby” in:

• News reports: “A passerby discovered the fire before firefighters arrived.”
• Storytelling: “He waved to a passerby for directions.”
• Police or legal writing: “The witness, a passerby, provided a statement.”

Common Verbs with “Passerby”

Here are verbs that naturally pair with it:

Verb	Example
See	“I saw a passerby holding a map.”
Notice	“A passerby noticed the lights flicker.”
Approach	“He approached a passerby for help.”
Help	“A passerby helped her cross the street.”
Ignore	“Everyone ignored the lonely passerby.”

Using it in the right context adds vividness and realism to your sentences.

Common Mistakes Writers Make (and How to Fix Them)

English learners and even fluent writers make a few recurring mistakes with “passerby.” Here’s how to fix them instantly.

Mistake 1: Using “Passerbyers”

• ❌ “Several passerbyers stopped to help.”
• ✅ “Several passersby stopped to help.”

Fix: Drop the “-ers.” The plural is already built into “passers.”

Mistake 2: Using “Passerbys”

• ❌ “There were a few passerbys near the shop.”
• ✅ “There were a few passersby near the shop.

Fix: Only pluralize the first word.

Mistake 3: Confusing “Passerby” with “Bystander”

• “Bystander” and “passerby” can overlap but aren’t identical.

Difference:

Word	Meaning	Example
Passerby	Someone who happens to be passing a scene	“A passerby noticed the accident.”
Bystander	Someone standing near an event, often observing	“A bystander recorded the event.”

Pro Tip:

If they’re moving, they’re a passerby.
If they’re standing, they’re a bystander.

Real-World Usage: Fun & Practical Examples

Language lives best in real contexts. Here’s how “passersby” appears in literature, journalism, and daily speech.

From Literature

“He watched the passersby with distant eyes, wondering if anyone noticed his loneliness.”
— Ernest Hemingway (paraphrased style)

From News Media

“Several passersby rushed to help before emergency services arrived.”
— BBC News Report

From Everyday Speech

“A couple of passersby took selfies with the street performer.”

Short Case Study: Street Photography and “Passersby”

Context: Street photographers often use the term “passersby” to describe random individuals captured in their photos.

For example, Humans of New York, a project by Brandon Stanton, builds entire stories around passersby. They’re strangers whose brief presence becomes meaningful through photography and storytelling.

Observation:
Using “passersby” here isn’t just grammatical — it’s artistic. It captures fleeting human moments that reflect emotion, diversity, and life itself.

Quick Grammar Recap Table

Here’s a one-glance summary for easy reference:

Form	Singular	Plural	Example
✅ Correct	Passerby	Passersby	“Three passersby witnessed the scene.”
❌ Incorrect	Passerbyers	—	“Passerbyers were watching.”
❌ Incorrect	Passerbys	—	“Two passerbys stopped by.”

Rule to Remember:

“When in doubt, pluralize the main noun, not the preposition.”

Why Getting It Right Actually Matters

You might wonder — does it really matter if someone writes passerbys instead of passersby?

Yes, it does. Especially if you care about credibility and clarity.

Here’s why:

• Professionalism: Using the correct plural signals attention to detail.
• Readability: Proper grammar keeps your writing smooth and trustworthy.
• Communication: Misusing words can distract readers or even change meaning.
• Consistency: Grammar accuracy supports your authority as a communicator.

Even major newspapers, like The Guardian or The New York Times, maintain internal style guides that emphasize correct plural forms such as passersby.

Using “passersby” instead of “passerbyers” shows that you understand how English really works — not just how it sounds.

Key Takeaways & Quick Memory Tips

Here’s a compact summary of everything we’ve covered so far:

• Passerby = one person passing by.
• Passersby = more than one person passing by.
• Passerbyers = ❌ incorrect (never use it).

Quick Rules to Remember:

• The plural “s” attaches to the main noun, not the preposition.
• Don’t double pluralize compound nouns.
• If in doubt, check similar examples like attorneys general.

Mnemonic Tip:

“Passers pass, but the ‘by’ stays by.”

This little rhyme helps you instantly recall the structure.

Bonus Section: Related Grammar You Should Know

If “passersby” confuses you, you’re not alone — English has plenty of odd plurals like it. Here are some of the most interesting (and useful) ones to remember:

Singular	Plural	Why It’s Tricky
Attorney general	Attorneys general	Main noun comes first
Mother-in-law	Mothers-in-law	Prepositional phrase follows
Court-martial	Courts-martial	Main noun = court
Looker-on	Lookers-on	Similar structure to passerby
Commander-in-chief	Commanders-in-chief	Preposition stays the same
Editor-in-chief	Editors-in-chief	Main noun pluralized

Notice a pattern? In each one, the main noun carries the plural mark, just like “passersby.”

Extra Tip: Learn Through Comparison

Here’s a quick visual to make it stick:

Incorrect	Correct	Type
Passerbyers	Passersby	Noun + Preposition
Mother-in-laws	Mothers-in-law	Noun + Prepositional Phrase
Court-martials	Courts-martial	Noun + Modifier
Looker-ons	Lookers-on	Noun + Preposition

The logic stays consistent across all forms.

Conclusion

When talking about people walking by, the only grammatically correct and standard English form is Passersby. The base singular word is Passerby, and when we make it plural, the correct plural is created by adding -s to the noun part (Passers), not to “by”. The spelling Passerbyers is not correct in standard English and should not be used in any formal or academic writing. So, if you want your English to be accurate, natural, and professional, always use Passerby (singular) and Passersby (plural).

FAQs?

What is the correct plural of Passerby?

The correct plural is Passersby.

Is “Passerbyers” a real English word?

No. Passerbyers is not accepted in standard English.

Can we write “Passerby’s”?

Yes, but only for possession (example: “the passerby’s phone”).

Which form should I use in formal writing?

Always use Passersby (plural) and Passerby (singular).

Why is the “s” added before “by”?

Because the noun is “passer,” and “by” is just a preposition, so the plural goes on the noun → Passers + by = Passersby.