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Not sure if this will be considered off topic, my apologies if so. The article says that octopi is the plural of octopus, but it's actually octopuses. Octopus
by mikecx 4y ago
Not sure if this will be considered off topic, my apologies if so.
The article says that octopi is the plural of octopus, but it's actually octopuses. Octopus is originally Greek, not Latin and thus does not get the Latin plural -i, but instead would get the Greek plural -odes. Since it ends in a way English can deal with, the commonly accepted usage is octopuses (English) over octopodes (Greek) with octopi being the least correct.
https://qz.com/1446229/let-us-finally-resolve-the-octopuses-v-octopi-debate/ https://qz.com/1446229/let-us-finally-resolve-the-octopuses-...
- HmOh6WbJ 4y agoSimilarly: cyclops -> cyclopodes
- aidenn0 4y agoThe way the author specifically calls out the plural of octopus makes me think they might be trolling (Hanlon's Razor notwithstanding).
- exolymph 4y agoActually the plural is "octopuppies."
- robotguy 4y agoOxford & Merriam-Webster list both plurals and the author calls out that octopi is "the quite beautiful plural form of 'octopus' " which could be interpreted as "while there are multiple correct plurals of octopus, octopi is the beautiful one." While “octopi” has become popular in modern usage, it’s wrong. I would argue that it used to be wrong, but language, unlike physics and code, is what the majority say it is. I used to be a stickler for correct vocabulary usage and then I saw a documentary about dictionaries (can't remember what it was) and someone from OED said basically this (from https://www.oed.com/public/oed3guide/guide-to-the-third-edition-of https://www.oed.com/public/oed3guide/guide-to-the-third-edit...): The Oxford English Dictionary is not an arbiter of proper usage, despite its widespread reputation to the contrary. The Dictionary is intended to be descriptive, not prescriptive. In other words, its content should be viewed as an objective reflection of English language usage, not a subjective collection of usage ‘dos’ and ‘don'ts’. However, it does include information on which usages are, or have been, popularly regarded as ‘incorrect’. The Dictionary aims to cover the full spectrum of English language usage, from formal to slang, as it has evolved over time. Now I think it's something that is just fun to argue about, but I don't take any of it seriously. (edited for formatting)
- o_____________o 4y agoI'd be interested in knowing what that documentary is called if you remember.
- robotguy 4y agoI’ll scour my watch history, I’m pretty sure it was on Amazon Prime. Meanwhile, if you think that sounds interesting I’d highly recommend the documentary Helvetica.
- robocat 4y agoAlso https://www.google.co.nz/search?q=The+Professor+and+the+Madman https://www.google.co.nz/search?q=The+Professor+and+the+Madm... I haven’t watched it, but the subject is fascinating.
- robotguy 4y ago
- gweinberg 4y agoThey only think "octopi" is least correct, because they have yet to encounter "octopussen"!
- BurningFrog 4y agoThis is definitely off topic: I really dislike the latin plural rule, that some misguided but powerful people decided on centuries ago. "Indexes" is much more natural English than "indices", and we should, when possible, use those those forms.
- adhesive_wombat 4y agoSomehow I recall being told that indexes is the correct plural of the section at the end of a book, and indices is correct for subscripted things in maths and therefore programming. I don't think a particularly convincing reason was advanced other then "technical things are more Latin-adjacent".
- etskinner 4y agoIt's a loan word, there isn't any 'correct' or 'incorrect' answer. Language is always evolving, which is why dictionaries are often descriptive instead of prescriptive. To wit: A blog post from Merriam-Webster: https://www.merriam-webster.com/words-at-play/the-many-plurals-of-octopus-octopi-octopuses-octopodes https://www.merriam-webster.com/words-at-play/the-many-plura...
- deepspace 4y agoI much prefer octopodes over octopuses (which sounds dirty, somehow). Agree that octopi is an abomination.
- Tao3300 4y ago> While “octopi” has become popular in modern usage, it’s wrong. What a silly thing to say! Where does this poor fool think language comes from? This is one of the cringiest Well-Actually-isms. It tries to look pedantic while completely missing the point.
- hackernewds 4y agoOctopi is also THE epitome of the "i" pluralization. I see people using focuses more than foci, but it's a common callout that octopus plural is octopi
- paulcole 4y agoAn AI couldn’t generate a more off topic comment if it tried.
- seventytwo 4y agoShoot, you’re right! If we dont adhere to this, the perfectly consistent English language will be ruined!