new_plural.rb

# to explain

# ActionView lets me write
# pluralize(something.length, "Thing") =>
# "2 Things"
#
# But in this case, I want to separate the number from the text in HTML (to put an icon in between).
# Since I'm using CSS sprites, the easiest way is to wrap the text in a span with a class on it to get the correct image

# Thus:

 def new_pluralize (number, text)
    class_name = text.downcase
    unless number == 1
      text = text.pluralize
    end
    "#{number} <span class=\"#{class_name}\">#{text}</span>"
  end

# Which lets me call
# new_pluralize(something.length, "Thing") =>
# "2 <span class="thing">Things</span>"

# Then all I have to do is insert it in my view without escaping the HTML

Redundant in the sense of repetition :-)

Anyway, looks like things are working fine for you