Is it bead art or beads art? (Popular Usage) [duplicate]

I am writing a neural network application. In this application, a neural network can have one or more hidden layers, which can have different sizes (neuron counts).

Which label would be correct: "hidden layer sizes" or "hidden layers sizes" and why? I realize this is a more general grammar related question and I'd love to learn about it.

EDIT: the label is for a text box, where user will enter numbers separated by commas.

Solution 1:

In your phrase, hidden layer is an attributive noun: it's a noun which behaves as an adjective modifying sizes.

In English, adjectives are not inflected for number; that is, the form of an adjective doesn't change depending on the number of what it's describing. [This differs from French, for example.]

• One red apple
• Two red apples

Thus your "adjective" hidden layer should be singular.

Solution 2:

I would opt for hidden layer sizes.

I'm guessing the label is for a table or graph and you're labeling a list of different sizes. Since you're showing multiple sizes, so you pluralise "size".

"Hidden layer" is simply a specifier; it specifies the things that have the sizes that you are showing.

@FumbleFingers makes a very good point in the comments: labeling on graphs and charts tend to use the singular for things like table headings or axis titles. In that case, hidden layer size would be a better option.

However, if the label is for the graph/table/figure as a whole, then pluralising "sizes" probably is appropriate. In which case, the preceding holds: pluralise "size" not "later".