Please settle a dispute

[Barman]

'bestist'  

Betterer then...

That is bestest.

[fact]
'Dwarf' is of Germanic/Nordic origin, so the original plural would have been 'Dwarfen'
Usually when such words are adopted in English, the 'n' becomes 's'.
Notable exceptions are words like 'horse' which would have been expected to follow the rule of 'ox' to 'oxen' i.e. 'horse' to 'horsen' not 'horses'
[/fact]

And... 

[Darwins Selection]

'bestist'  

Betterer then...

That is bestest.

[fact]
'Dwarf' is of Germanic/Nordic origin, so the original plural would have been 'Dwarfen'
Usually when such words are adopted in English, the 'n' becomes 's'.
Notable exceptions are words like 'horse' which would have been expected to follow the rule of 'ox' to 'oxen' i.e. 'horse' to 'horsen' not 'horses'
[/fact]

And... 

. . .so it probably should be Dwarfes.

[Barman]

'bestist'  

Betterer then...

That is bestest.

[fact]
'Dwarf' is of Germanic/Nordic origin, so the original plural would have been 'Dwarfen'
Usually when such words are adopted in English, the 'n' becomes 's'.
Notable exceptions are words like 'horse' which would have been expected to follow the rule of 'ox' to 'oxen' i.e. 'horse' to 'horsen' not 'horses'
[/fact]

And... 

. . .so it probably should be Dwarfes.

Not Dwarfen...? 

[Darwins Selection]

'bestist'  

Betterer then...

That is bestest.

[fact]
'Dwarf' is of Germanic/Nordic origin, so the original plural would have been 'Dwarfen'
Usually when such words are adopted in English, the 'n' becomes 's'.
Notable exceptions are words like 'horse' which would have been expected to follow the rule of 'ox' to 'oxen' i.e. 'horse' to 'horsen' not 'horses'
[/fact]

And... 

. . .so it probably should be Dwarfes.

Not Dwarfen...? 

Possibly.

Or even "Dwarfie" in Gaelic. 

[Snoopy]

Fowler's "Modern English Usage" says
"The traditional pl. form in BrE is dwarfs, but dwarves is now increasingly being used, as it has been for a long time outside the UK. I have examples of dwarfs from BrE (C. S. Lewis, P. Lively, local and national newspapers) and AmE (R. Merton, P. Roth) sources; and of dwarves from BrE (A. Brookner, J.R.R.Tolkien, local and national newspapers) AmE (J.Updike, a Chicago newspaper). NZ (M. Gee, Rosie Scott). and S. African (J.M. Coetzee, D. Lessing) sources."

In summary then Fowler, the accepted authority, allows us to choose for ourselves between dwarfs and dwarves citing impeccable sources for both derivations.

Interestingly for those who like to rely on the Microsoft spell checker whilst it demands that we change dwarves to dwarfs it wants us to change wharfs to wharves ~ but that is another argument.

I suggest we toss a coin ~ unless anyone has a PORG (person of restricted growth) to hand in which case we could toss the dwarf.

[Grumpmeister]

Just a thought but what context are the dwarves being taken from Nick. If she is on about generic mythology then I'd say dwarves but if she is taking them through something like The Lord of the Rings then have a look in the book and see how the author spelt it.

[The Moan Ranger]

It's dwarfs. End of.

[Snoopy]

Just a thought but what context are the dwarves being taken from Nick. If she is on about generic mythology then I'd say dwarves but if she is taking them through something like The Lord of the Rings then have a look in the book and see how the author spelt it.

Why look at Lord of the Rings? ~ I've already quoted the author on the subject 

[Grumpmeister]

Just a thought but what context are the dwarves being taken from Nick. If she is on about generic mythology then I'd say dwarves but if she is taking them through something like The Lord of the Rings then have a look in the book and see how the author spelt it.

I used it as an example because its normally the first thing that comes to mind when people think of fantasy hound. It could just as easily been a Gemmell novel or part of the Riftwar saga.

[TG]

Mrs TG is a bit short if that helps. 

[Snoopy]

I can lend her a quid if that helps. 

[Grumpmeister]

Thanks TG, I now have BIll Bailey's scouser hobbit impression stuck in my head.  

[TG]

I can lend her a quid if that helps. 

She may need it soon. 

[Darwins Selection]

Mrs TG is a bit short if that helps. 

So is Snoopy I've heard, although he is normal height.

[Snoopy]

  I am listening you know ~ anyway I am not short, just over broad.