Nouns ending in a consonant followed by -y change the -y to -ies in the plural form.
Hardly is regular. It follows the -ies Conversion rule.
Use plural verbs: "The hardlies are ready" (not "is ready").
Yes. The plural hardlies is standard across all English variants.
The word hardly follows the standard English pluralization rule. When forming the plural, hardly becomes hardlies. This follows the -ies Conversion pattern, which is one of the most common plural rules in English.
Understanding why hardly becomes hardlies helps with spelling and pronunciation. Nouns ending in a consonant followed by -y change the -y to -ies in the plural form.
When using hardlies in writing, remember that it functions as a plural noun in sentences. It pairs with plural verbs and pronouns. For example: "The hardlies are ready" (not "is ready"). This subject-verb agreement is essential for grammatical correctness.