(March 17, 2024 at 1:48 pm)Paleophyte Wrote:

(March 8, 2024 at 2:52 pm)FlatAssembler Wrote: Plural of "octopus" is not "octopi". Where do people get this nonsense from? "Octopus" is a Greek word (ὀκτώπους), not a Latin one (where plural of "-us" nouns is mostly formed with "-i"), and the Greek plural is "octopodes" (ὀκτώποδες). In English, the plural of "octopus" should probably be "octopuses", or maybe "octopodes", but certainly not "octopi".

"Octopus" isn't Greek, it's English bastardized from the Greek "oktopous". The worst that you can say about "octopi" is that it's misconceived, but then so is the whole English language.

So the correct plural of "octopus" is "octopi". Because it's the common usage and, more importantly, it pisses off the pedanticists.

If octopus is an English word, then the correct plural is ‘octopuses’

To further this, ‘pedanticists’ isn’t a word. Neither is ‘pedanticism’ - the word is ‘pedantry’. People who practice it are called ‘pedants’.

Here endeth the lesson.

Boru

Language can be whatever you want it to be. People obsessed with one form of grammar thought Tolkien did it wrong. Yet look at the way popular fiction is always changing the rules of grammar. Sure, classic literature had its place. But that was then, and this is now.

^What does the colour purple sound like? What colour is an echo?

While I don’t disagree that language is constantly changing (that’s a good thing, btw), the notion that it can be whatever you want is a bit of a stretch.

However, I do disagree that popular fiction is changing the rules of grammar. More like breaking them.

Boru

(March 17, 2024 at 2:43 pm)BrianSoddingBoru4 Wrote: ^What does the colour purple sound like? What colour is an echo?

A good writer can describe it.

(March 17, 2024 at 2:01 pm)BrianSoddingBoru4 Wrote:

(March 17, 2024 at 1:48 pm)Paleophyte Wrote: "Octopus" isn't Greek, it's English bastardized from the Greek "oktopous". The worst that you can say about "octopi" is that it's misconceived, but then so is the whole English language.

So the correct plural of "octopus" is "octopi". Because it's the common usage and, more importantly, it pisses off the pedanticists.

If octopus is an English word, then the correct plural is ‘octopuses’

Or "octopus", "octopes", "octopeese", "octopices", etc. English hath no single grammatical rule for pluralization, so "octopi" is as acceptable as anything else.

Quote:To further this, ‘pedanticists’ isn’t a word. Neither is ‘pedanticism’ - the word is ‘pedantry’. People who practice it are called ‘pedants’.

Here endeth the lesson.

Yes, I no. I'm a ware that pedanticalists are vary predictable. Thankyou four beeing sew oblijing.

Enjoy your schooling.

(March 17, 2024 at 3:18 pm)Paleophyte Wrote:

(March 17, 2024 at 2:01 pm)BrianSoddingBoru4 Wrote: If octopus is an English word, then the correct plural is ‘octopuses’

Or "octopus", "octopes", "octopeese", "octopices", etc. English hath no single grammatical rule for pluralization, so "octopi" is as acceptable as anything else.

Quote:To further this, ‘pedanticists’ isn’t a word. Neither is ‘pedanticism’ - the word is ‘pedantry’. People who practice it are called ‘pedants’.

Here endeth the lesson.

Yes, I no. I'm a ware that pedanticalists are vary predictable. Thankyou four beeing sew oblijing.

Enjoy your schooling.

You started it.

Boru

(March 17, 2024 at 1:48 pm)Paleophyte Wrote:

(March 8, 2024 at 2:52 pm)FlatAssembler Wrote: Plural of "octopus" is not "octopi". Where do people get this nonsense from? "Octopus" is a Greek word (ὀκτώπους), not a Latin one (where plural of "-us" nouns is mostly formed with "-i"), and the Greek plural is "octopodes" (ὀκτώποδες). In English, the plural of "octopus" should probably be "octopuses", or maybe "octopodes", but certainly not "octopi".

"Octopus" isn't Greek, it's English bastardized from the Greek "oktopous". The worst that you can say about "octopi" is that it's misconceived, but then so is the whole English language.

So the correct plural of "octopus" is "octopi". Because it's the common usage and, more importantly, it pisses off the pedanticists.

I use "octopodes" because the octopuses camp is full of hopeless wankers.

People expecting consistency out of English are amusing.

(March 17, 2024 at 5:22 pm)Jackalope Wrote: I use "octopodes" ...

The eight armed philosopher everyone wanted at their orgy.

(March 17, 2024 at 5:22 pm)Jackalope Wrote:

(March 17, 2024 at 1:48 pm)Paleophyte Wrote: "Octopus" isn't Greek, it's English bastardized from the Greek "oktopous". The worst that you can say about "octopi" is that it's misconceived, but then so is the whole English language.

So the correct plural of "octopus" is "octopi". Because it's the common usage and, more importantly, it pisses off the pedanticists.

I use "octopodes" because the octopuses camp is full of hopeless wankers.

People expecting consistency out of English are amusing.

On behalf of hopeless wankers everywhere, I thank you.     

Boru

(March 17, 2024 at 5:30 pm)BrianSoddingBoru4 Wrote:

(March 17, 2024 at 5:22 pm)Jackalope Wrote: I use "octopodes" because the octopuses camp is full of hopeless wankers.

People expecting consistency out of English are amusing.

On behalf of hopeless wankers everywhere, I thank you.     

Boru

What about us hopeful wankers??