diff --git a/elisp-refs.el b/elisp-refs.el
index f438b64..63f4f4c 100644
--- a/elisp-refs.el
+++ b/elisp-refs.el
@@ -469,20 +469,20 @@ propertize them."
      'path path)
     (buffer-string)))
 
+(defun elisp-refs--pluralize (number thing)
+  "Human-friendly description of NUMBER occurrences of THING."
+  (format "%s %s%s"
+          (elisp-refs--format-int number)
+          thing
+          (if (equal number 1) "" "s")))
+
 (defun elisp-refs--format-count (symbol ref-count file-count)
-  (let ((ref-count-str
-         (if (equal ref-count 1)
-             "1 reference"
-           (format "%s references" (elisp-refs--format-int ref-count))))
-        (file-count-str
-         (cond
-          ((zerop file-count)
-           "")
-          ((equal file-count 1)
-           " in 1 file")
-          (t
-           (format " in %s files" (elisp-refs--format-int file-count))))))
-    (format "Found %s to %s%s." ref-count-str symbol file-count-str)))
+  (format "Found %s to %s%s."
+          (elisp-refs--pluralize ref-count "reference")
+          symbol
+          (if (zerop file-count)
+              ""
+            (format " in %s" (elisp-refs--pluralize file-count "file")))))
 
 ;; TODO: if we have multiple matches on one line, we repeatedly show
 ;; that line. That's slighly confusing.
diff --git a/test/unit-test.el b/test/unit-test.el
index e58a083..2e0b64f 100644
--- a/test/unit-test.el
+++ b/test/unit-test.el
@@ -34,6 +34,12 @@ whilst visiting that file."
   (should (equal (elisp-refs--format-int -1234) "-1,234"))
   (should (equal (elisp-refs--format-int 1234567) "1,234,567")))
 
+(ert-deftest elisp-refs--pluralize ()
+  (should (equal (elisp-refs--pluralize 0 "thing") "0 things"))
+  (should (equal (elisp-refs--pluralize 1 "thing") "1 thing"))
+  (should (equal (elisp-refs--pluralize 2 "thing") "2 things"))
+  (should (equal (elisp-refs--pluralize 1001 "thing") "1,001 things")))
+
 (ert-deftest elisp-refs--unindent-split-properties ()
   "Ensure we can still unindent when properties are split
 into separate region. Regression test for a very subtle bug."