     }
 
     public class func apply(word: String) -> String {
-        guard !(sharedInstance.uncountables.contains(word.lowercased()) || word.characters.count == 0) else {
+        guard !(sharedInstance.uncountables.contains(word.lowercased()) || word.count == 0) else {
             return word
         }
 


    // Workaround to allow us to use `count` as an argument name in pluralize() above.
    private var length: Int {
        return self.characters.count
    }
}


    private class func regexReplace(input: String, pattern: String, template: String) -> String {
        let regex = try! NSRegularExpression(pattern: pattern, options: .caseInsensitive)
        let range = NSRange(location: 0, length: input.count)
        let output = regex.stringByReplacingMatches(in: input, options: [], range: range, withTemplate: template)
        return output
    }
