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There is a fish factory in which there are 2 people who check the fish to find worms in them.

Would it sound natural if I call them 'worms checkers'?

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    I think you mean "worms" (little slithery creatures) not "warms" (plural of 'warm' which is the opposite of 'cool')
    – Esther
    May 22, 2022 at 5:09
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    You could call them 'worm checkers', though there may be a more technical term used within the factory.
    – Kate Bunting
    May 22, 2022 at 13:26
  • If people have worms they check the fish?! Or do they check to see if the fish have worms?
    – Old Brixtonian
    May 22, 2022 at 15:35
  • Thank you for the correction, it was a typo. It should be WORMS. I edited my question.
    – Virtuous Legend
    May 23, 2022 at 12:35
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    Have you ever heard of someone inspecting fresh (presumably) fish for worms? The job title worm checker (note that "worm" must be singular) sounds very off-putting and unpleasant. Workers examine/check the meat, sounds much better to me already. I don't think people can be called "checkers" they're often called inspectors or testers. There's probably a more technical term for someone who does that kind of work.
    – Mari-Lou A
    May 23, 2022 at 12:58

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No, it isn't quite correct to say "worms checkers".

Usually when making a plural compound noun, the plural "s" only appears on the last noun. So, in your example, that would be "worm checkers". This is similar to compound nouns like coffee experts, apple pickers, grave diggers, ticket inspectors, or book binders, etc.

And yes, "worm checkers" will be understood as people who check for worms. However you could also say "worm inspectors", which sounds a bit more formal, more like an official job title. I see no real problem with using the word "checkers" in this way, though. It's perfectly understandable.

checker, n.1

One who checks.

  1. A reprover, rebuker, fault-finder; a controller.

Source: OED.com

Perhaps a more formal title would be better though. Fish parasite inspector sounds good to me, and less ambiguous.

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  • but it doesn't work like apple picker as i first thought of somebody checking the worms for problem, How about fish checkers?
    – WendyG
    May 23, 2022 at 14:09
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    @WemdyG - the similarity I was referring to here is the use of the plural only on the last part of the compound noun. Given the context, I didn't have any problem understanding what the OP meant by worm checker. Perhaps a more formal title would be better though. Fish parasite inspector sounds good to me, and less ambiguous.
    – Billy Kerr
    May 23, 2022 at 14:19
  • You can add this link, to your answer: carsoe.com/seafood-processing/products/candling-tables
    – Virtuous Legend
    May 23, 2022 at 18:27

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