plural of syllabus

[mollykins]

What is the plural of syllabus? Syllabuses or syllabi?

[Buenchico]

The Concise Oxford Dictionary offers both of those words as acceptable plurals.

Like Helen, I prefer 'syllabi' but I also still use 'stadia' as the plural of 'stadium', whereas the BBC and The Times now both use 'stadiums'.

Chris

[mollykins]

Thanks.

[boxtops]

So do I Chris, and the plural of forum is fora. The singular of criteria is criterion. Surprising how many people don't use these (she says, pedantically)

[mollykins]

i neevr knew about criterion boxy, thanks.

[woofgang]

and the only word that has 3 plurals???????
(back in 10 minutes)

[factor-fiction]

Whenever I write the words FORMULAE and AXES in maths as the plurals of formula and axis, the students are convinced I simply can't spell.
Although the plurals of some words ending in US will end in I (eg locs/loci), this rule doesn't always apply. For example there is a common misconception that the plural of OCTOPUS is OCTOPI but it isn't.

[boxtops]

Let's not forget the plural of Index is Indeces, too.

[woofgang]

just checked the oxford dictionary and my smartarse question is wrong :-(((

[Clanad]

Octopus...

[Buenchico]

I'm glad to see that someone else knows that the singular of criterion is criteria.

As secretary of various committees, I've sometimes had to send out notification of a meeting where there was only a single item to be discussed. I've always taken care not to use the word 'agenda', and to use 'agendum' instead ;-)

[mollykins]

Factor, I had old maths teachers so i've always gotten sued to writing formulae, like they do/did.

[factor-fiction]

The singular of DATA always used to be DATUM but now the word DATA seems always to be used for both singular and plural cases.

[mollykins]

chris don't you mean the singular of criteria is criterion (not being pedantic or anything . . . :P)

[mollykins]

I've opened a large can of worms haven't I?

[Prudie]

LOL so you're an 'old' maths teacher factor!! How do the young ones spell formulae then?

[factor-fiction]

Hi boxtops- agreed except it's INDICES
(old Maths joke: where do mathematicians sail their ships? Answer: INDICES)

[Buenchico]

Yes, I do, Molly!

(I shouldn't be posting at this time of the evening. I'm still sober!)

BTW: You might find it interesting to see the standards that 'The Times' journalists have to stick to:
http://www.timesonlin...ide/article986718.ece
(That guide is used by lots of other organisations as well)

[boxtops]

factor, I thought it looked wrong ;-) but I say it a lot more frequently than I write it!

[ttfn]

woofgang - welcome to my club :o)
I did know that one boxy, because Bournemouth has always boasted a Criterion Arcade and in my inquisitive childhood I checked it out ☺