Consulting Journal: Writing

Writing: Latin plurals

by David Blakey

What is the plural of 'virus'? Is 'virus' a Latin word or do we now accept it as English?

[Monday 25 August 2003]

There are times when a computer virus causes many individuals and organizations problems. As I write this, many people around the world are struggling to contain the Sobig.F trojan. So, in August 2003, this article deals with a current, ongoing situation. Unfortunately, this article will be relevant again in the future.

Some writers and many other people seem to imagine that the plural of virus is virii. This is bad Latin. As virus is a second declension noun, its plural is viri. This is too short and ugly a word, of course. It must seem more attractive to use a word like radii, the plural of radius. So virii has appeared.

Good Latin often makes bad English. The plural viruses sounds better than either of the correct or incorrect Latin plurals.

I have two strong beliefs about Latin.

First, I believe that it forms an excellent basis for a better understanding of the English language and, indeed, of any of the Romance languages.

Second, I believe that keeping to strict Latin, as it was written up to fifteen hundred years ago, does not encourage the growth and development of modern English.

This means that I welcome the continued teaching of Latin in many schools, but I find much pedantry about modern English exhibited by people who have learned Latin.

The word agenda is Latin, meaning ‘things to be done’, so agendas should not exist as a plural of agenda. We live in a world of practicality, where agenda has acquired a singular sense, as a list of items to be considered at a meeting. We have to ignore what our Latin knowledge tells us and just make English work for us. If we need a plural for agenda, then agendas is good enough.

There are several words that have been changed in their transition from Latin to English. Most of these changes involve their plural forms.

appendix: The Latin plural of appendix is appendices, and this is still the form most commonly accepted for sections of a written work. In English, appendixes is also acceptable.
formula: The Latin plural of formula is formulae, and this is still the preferred form in physics and mathematics. In general English, formulas is acceptable.
memorandum: The Latin plural of memorandum is memoranda. In English, memorandums is acceptable. This also holds for referendums.
stigma: The Latin plural of stigma is stigmata. In English, stigmas is acceptable.
octopus: This is not a Latin word at all, so octopi is wrong. In English, octopuses is correct.

So, to convince you to aim for English plurals rather than ‘correct’ Latin plurals, which may be wrong anyway, here are some final examples.

What is the plural of album? In English, it is albums. In Latin, it is alba. Imagine someone saying ‘Let me show you my photograph alba’.
What is the plural of quorum? In English, it is quorums. In fact, quorum is not a Latin noun.

If we were all Latin scholars, then using Latin plurals might be easy. Many of the advocates of Latin purity do not know Latin well, so that their pedantry is often based on error. They eventually look foolish and are ignored. Sic transit gloria mundi.

As an example of a writer attempting to use Latin words, the first version of this article stated that the Latin plural of album is albi. In fact, as a reader, Andrew Teller, pointed out, the plural is alba. I acknowledge my error, although it reinforces my view that writers should steer clear of Latin plurals.

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