diff --git a/Library/Homebrew/cmd/tap.rb b/Library/Homebrew/cmd/tap.rb
index 80ebcd81e1..3084ea1ab6 100644
--- a/Library/Homebrew/cmd/tap.rb
+++ b/Library/Homebrew/cmd/tap.rb
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ module Homebrew extend self
     files = []
     tapd.find_formula { |file| files << file }
     link_tap_formula(files)
-    puts "Tapped #{files.length} formula"
+    puts "Tapped #{files.length} formula#{plural(files.length, 'e')}"
 
     if private_tap?(repouser, repo) then puts <<-EOS.undent
       It looks like you tapped a private repository. To avoid entering your
@@ -77,7 +77,7 @@ module Homebrew extend self
         count += 1
       end
     end
-    puts "Pruned #{count} dead formula"
+    puts "Pruned #{count} dead formula#{plural(count, 'e')}"
 
     return unless HOMEBREW_REPOSITORY.join("Library/Taps").exist?
 
@@ -89,7 +89,7 @@ module Homebrew extend self
       count += link_tap_formula(files)
     end
 
-    puts "Tapped #{count} formula"
+    puts "Tapped #{count} formula#{plural(count, 'e')}"
   end
 
   private
diff --git a/Library/Homebrew/cmd/untap.rb b/Library/Homebrew/cmd/untap.rb
index bba10b07a6..b71d44841a 100644
--- a/Library/Homebrew/cmd/untap.rb
+++ b/Library/Homebrew/cmd/untap.rb
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ module Homebrew extend self
     unlink_tap_formula(files)
     tapd.rmtree
     tapd.dirname.rmdir_if_possible
-    puts "Untapped #{files.length} formula"
+    puts "Untapped #{files.length} formula#{plural(files.length, 'e')}"
   end
 
   def unlink_tap_formula paths
diff --git a/Library/Homebrew/cmd/upgrade.rb b/Library/Homebrew/cmd/upgrade.rb
index 205de517db..1f9330beb1 100644
--- a/Library/Homebrew/cmd/upgrade.rb
+++ b/Library/Homebrew/cmd/upgrade.rb
@@ -1,12 +1,6 @@
 require 'cmd/install'
 require 'cmd/outdated'
 
-class Fixnum
-  def plural_s
-    if self != 1 then "s" else "" end
-  end
-end
-
 module Homebrew extend self
   def upgrade
     Homebrew.perform_preinstall_checks
@@ -35,14 +29,14 @@ module Homebrew extend self
     end
 
     unless outdated.empty?
-      oh1 "Upgrading #{outdated.length} outdated package#{outdated.length.plural_s}, with result:"
+      oh1 "Upgrading #{outdated.length} outdated package#{plural(outdated.length)}, with result:"
       puts outdated.map{ |f| "#{f.name} #{f.pkg_version}" } * ", "
     else
       oh1 "No packages to upgrade"
     end
 
     unless upgrade_pinned? || pinned.empty?
-      oh1 "Not upgrading #{pinned.length} pinned package#{pinned.length.plural_s}:"
+      oh1 "Not upgrading #{pinned.length} pinned package#{plural(pinned.length)}:"
       puts pinned.map{ |f| "#{f.name} #{f.pkg_version}" } * ", "
     end
 
diff --git a/Library/Homebrew/utils.rb b/Library/Homebrew/utils.rb
index ac84c16025..36b30d857c 100644
--- a/Library/Homebrew/utils.rb
+++ b/Library/Homebrew/utils.rb
@@ -78,6 +78,10 @@ def pretty_duration s
   return "%.1f minutes" % (s/60)
 end
 
+def plural n, s="s"
+  (n == 1) ? "" : s
+end
+
 def interactive_shell f=nil
   unless f.nil?
     ENV['HOMEBREW_DEBUG_PREFIX'] = f.prefix