def _pl(x):
 len_x = (x if isinstance(x, (integer_types, np.generic)) else len(x))
 return ('' if (len_x == 1) else 's')

def _pl ( x ) : len_x = ( x if isinstance ( x , ( integer_types , np . generic ) ) else len ( x ) ) return ( '' if ( len_x == 1 ) else 's' )
determine if plural should be used .