Tricky Singular Plural Pairs
Tricky Singular Plural Pairs jls164What follows are some important and commonly misused singular/plural pairs, all of which are commonly used in technical writing.
| Singular | Plural |
|---|---|
| alga | algae |
| appendix | appendixes or appendices |
| axis | axes |
| crisis | crises |
| criterion | criteria |
| curriculum | curriculums or curricula |
| formula | formulas or formulae |
| fungus | fungi |
| hypothesis | hypotheses |
| locus | loci |
| medium | media |
| nucleus | nuclei |
| phenomenon | phenomena |
| radius | radii |
| retina | retinas or retinae |
| spectrum | spectra |
| stimulus | stimuli |
| stratum | strata |
| thesis | theses |
Be certain to use the correct form of these nouns, and be sure that the related verbs are compatible with the noun’s status as singular or plural. Even though they may automatically sound wrong to your ear, the sentences below are all correct, with the subjects and verbs compatible in grammar.