traffic light or traffic lights (2024)

Sometimes I see people write "traffic light" instead of "traffic lights"; is it really acceptable? The only way I can make sense of "traffic light" is if we are talking about just one light, like the red traffic light, or the green traffic light. When talking about the structure consisting of three lights (1 red, 1 yellow, 1 green), shouldn't we always use "traffic lights" in the plural?

Thanks!

The traffic light is

a single lamp,

a set of three (red, amber, green) on one post.
Traffic lights are

a set of three (red, amber, green) on one post,

a number of such sets around a crossroads,

a number of such sets along a straight road.

Confusing? The context usually makes it clear.

Keith Bradford said:

The traffic light is

either

a single lamp,

or more rarely

a set of three (red, amber, green) on one post.

Click to expand...

Most Americans, like Hitchhiker, would use "traffic light" to mean a triple light, so that use is much more common due to the relative quantities of single and triple lights..

And, of course, the word traffic is optional, given sufficient context: "Turn right at the next corner, go through the first two lights, and turn left at the third one."

Keith Bradford said:

The traffic light is

either

a single lamp,

or more rarely

a set of three (red, amber, green) on one post.

Click to expand...

So, are BE speakers more likely to say "traffic lights" in the first situation Hitchhiker gave as an example? (See below)

Hitchhiker said:

I usually say, "traffic light" if I am referring to one intersection, such as, "Turn left at the traffic light."

Click to expand...

I'm with Keith Bradford in #2.

In my experience we tend to say 'traffic lights' more often than 'traffic light', meaning a set of two or more individual 'posts' or 'poles'.

And we also say such things as 'turn left at the lights'. And, perhaps to a child, 'Cross when the lights turn green'. (No 'traffic').

I'm sorry for reviving this thread but a couple of things are not clear to me.

In British English, when talking about one set of three lamps, would you say:

a. New traffic lights were installed last week.
b. A new traffic light was installed last week.

Would you also say "I got out at the traffic lights." or "I got out at the traffic light." ?

Lastly, in American English, is it true that a "stoplight" can mean a "traffic light"?

In British English:

a. New traffic lights were installed last week.
b. A new traffic light was installed last week.

Would you also say "I got out at the traffic lights." or "I got out at the traffic light."

Keith Bradford said:

In British English:

a. New traffic lights were installed last week.
b. A new traffic light was installed last week.

Would you also say "I got out at the traffic lights." or "I got out at the traffic light."

Click to expand...

Thank you ! It is clear about different usage in British and American English.

But can we say " this traffic lights is new " instead of " these traffic lights are new" as we can do with the words like " crossroads" or " headquarters" ?

4es4ernikov said:

But can we say " this traffic lights is new

Click to expand...

No. Sorry. In AE, this is a traffic light (singular)

No, but we could, in BE, say 'This set of traffic lights is new.'

Cross-posted.

Yes, a stoplight is a traffic light in American English.

I admit I'm having a hard time imaginng what a single light would be good for, except as a flashing red.

RM1(SS) said:

"Turn right at the next corner, go through the first two lights, and turn left at the third one."

Click to expand...

I’m still struggling with the difference between AE /BE here.
This isn’t a good example for showing the “singular” use because it feature two lights!

Would Americans say:
Turn right at the next corner, go through the first light and turn left at the second one?

kentix said:

Yes.

Click to expand...

Thanks.