Access or accesses

[hhgygy]

Hi native speakers.

Easy question again: I'm translating an IT-security related document and my problem is with the plural of access.
Is it grammatically correct that someone's (or a system's) task is "to log accesses" if we want to emphasize that these are several "instances/attempts of access"?
I feel that access should not be pluralized like that but I wonder what native speakers think of it.

[Peter Duncanson [BrE]]

On Tue, 14 Jul 2015 01:43:28 -0700 (PDT), hhgygy <hhg...@gmail.com>
wrote:

The plural form "accesses" is correct in that context.
http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/access

access

1.3 The process of obtaining or retrieving information stored in a
computer's memory:

More example sentences

"Memory data accesses are hundreds of times faster than disk."
"This execution involves performing arithmetic and logical
calculations, initiating memory accesses, and controlling the flow
of program execution."
"Virtual Interface Architecture is a new method or establishing
application-to-application remote memory accesses over a network."

--
Peter Duncanson, UK
(in alt.usage.english)

[Harrison Hill]

Neither is wrong, but the singular version works best for me. Similarly you would log a process or an outcome, rather than their plural or even plurals. Perhaps toss a coin to decide.

[Mark Brader]

> Is it grammatically correct that someone's (or a system's) task is "to
> log accesses" if we want to emphasize that these are several
> "instances/attempts of access"?

It's not a matter of emphasis; in that sense, "access" is a count noun,
so it has to be plural.

> I feel that access should not be pluralized like that but I wonder what
> native speakers think of it.

If it means "the ability or permission to do something", then it's a mass
noun and remains singular. But in this case, you're mistaken.
--
Mark Brader "A clarification is not to make oneself clear.
Toronto It is to PUT oneself IN the clear."
m...@vex.net -- Lynn & Jay, "Yes, Prime Minister"