Right, when there is this much controversy over a plural there will never be a consensus, especially when it doesn’t actually matter. The truth is that as long as people understand what you mean it doesn’t matter what you use.
Mountain lions have like 30 different names and no one gets into entomology fights about them. If there is no scientific standard name like birds have use whatever makes the most sense to you or your audience.
I completely agree that no one’s likely to get into “entomology” fights over mountain lions’ scientific minutiae… because they’re not fucking insects. 🤦🏽♂️
I used the wrong word and you had no idea what I was talking about, you got me. Debating a word over Greek vs Latin origin on what suffix to use in the English language, which is always consistent and true to its root words, is worthy of such pedantry. I concede.
Professor should know that it’s etymologically Greek, not Latin, so octopi is generally considered to be wrong.
Octopuses, or octopodes if you’re feeling badass, would be preferable afaik.
https://www.dictionary.com/e/octopuses-or-octopi/
Octopuses, octopodes, and octopi are fine.
What about octopussies?
James Bond already did that one I think…
As always, it depends on who you ask:
https://web.archive.org/web/20190422115828/https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/octopus
https://oceanconservancy.org/blog/2022/02/01/plural-octopus
https://brians.wsu.edu/2016/05/19/octopi/
Right, when there is this much controversy over a plural there will never be a consensus, especially when it doesn’t actually matter. The truth is that as long as people understand what you mean it doesn’t matter what you use.
Vernacular morphology is one thing, but in a scientific mode, this is lazy AF.
Mountain lions have like 30 different names and no one gets into entomology fights about them. If there is no scientific standard name like birds have use whatever makes the most sense to you or your audience.
Thanks for proving my point.
I completely agree that no one’s likely to get into “entomology” fights over mountain lions’ scientific minutiae… because they’re not fucking insects. 🤦🏽♂️
I used the wrong word and you had no idea what I was talking about, you got me. Debating a word over Greek vs Latin origin on what suffix to use in the English language, which is always consistent and true to its root words, is worthy of such pedantry. I concede.
My dude, you literally illustrated my point in your hurry to reply. Own it. 🤣🤌🏽
Octopodomorphs if you want to be inclusive.