Which is the Correct way to say it ?

[planeloco]

I hear the following (or something quite similar) on a regular basis, BUT (TO ME) it does NOT sound correct.

I have BAG FULLS of stuff...
Surely the correct way to say this is ..I have BAGS FULL of stuff.
Once again I have just heard it said on a T.V programme & it REALLY rubs me up the wrong way.

Anybody able to explain PLEASE !

[daffy654]

I think you are right,'bags full' makes much more sense.

[antonove]

You can say "bagfuls of the stuff" , but you can also say" bags full "of the stuff!

[ladyalex]

And that's before we get on to teaspoonsful and teaspoonfuls.....

[Quizmonster]

Bagful, as one word with a single letter 'l', has been in use since the 1300s to mean 'as much as a bag' - of one sort or another - 'will contain.' Thus, bagfuls is perfectly correct when used in that sense, as in, "Would you deliver three bagfuls of coal?' (Yes, of course, one could just say 'three bags' as well.) On the other hand, if you asked for 'three bags full of coal', the coal-merchant might think you imagined he'd be likely to cheat you by delivering three bags only partially filled! Similarly, 'I have bags full of stuff' also suggests that each bag is filled to capacity.
A key point is that 'bag fulls' as two words and with two letters 'l' is a non-starter.

[mollykins]

This is like portuguese man of war(s)

[jno]

If you say bags full it means you have more than one bag. If you say bagfuls you may not have any bags at all - enough stuff to fill them but not necessarily the bag to put them in.