Q.
When it comes to pairing singular and plural forms, the English language – with its muddle of word origins – is less than cooperative. To make things more confusing: some once ‘improper’ plurals have persisted their way into grudging acceptance.

That said, dictionaries don’t agree. Dare one say ‘rhinoceri’? Can ‘cactus’ be used to describe more than one cactus? Depends who you ask.

What are some of the trickier singular-plural pairs or trios?

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A.

Singular to Plural
• Appendix ⇢ Appendices or Appendixes
• Beef ⇢ Beefs or Beeves
• Biceps ⇢ Biceps or Bicepses
• Bison ⇢ Bison
• Cactus ⇢ Cacti, Cactuses or Cactus
• Cherub ⇢ Cherubim or Cherubs
• Confetto ⇢ Confetti
• Cyclops ⇢ Cyclopes or Cyclopses
• Cymbal ⇢ Cymbals
• Datum ⇢ Data
• Die ⇢ Dice
• Elf ⇢ Elves
• Esophagus ⇢ Esophagi
• Faux Pas ⇢ Faux Pas
• Formula ⇢ Formulae or Formulas
• Goggles ⇢ Goggles
• Graffito ⇢ Graffiti
• Grouse ⇢ Grouse or Grouses
• Heir Apparent ⇢ Heirs Apparent
• Hibiscus ⇢  Hibiscus or Hibiscuses

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• Hippopotamus ⇢ Hippopotamuses or Hippopotami
• Iris ⇢ Irides, Iris or Irisus
• Libretto ⇢ Libretti or Librettos
• Louse ⇢ Lice
• Notary Public ⇢ Notaries Public
• Octopus ⇢ Octopodes, Octopi or Octopuses
• Opus ⇢ Opera
• Ox ⇢ Oxen
• Passerby ⇢ Passersby
• Platypus ⇢ Platypodes, Platypus, Platypuses,
• Radius ⇢ Radii or Radiuses
• Rhinoceros ⇢  Rhinoceros or Rhinoceroses
• Spaghetto ⇢  Spaghetti
• Sphinx ⇢ Sphinges or Sphinxes
• Stigma ⇢ Stigmas or Stigmata
• Still Life ⇢ Still Lifes
• Swine ⇢ Swine
• Syllabus ⇢ Syllabi or Syllabuses
• Triceps ⇢ Triceps or Tricepses
• Trout ⇢ Trout or Trouts
• Virtuoso ⇢ Virtuosi  or Virtuosos
• Vortex ⇢ Vortices or Vortexes
• Wharf ⇢ Wharfs or Wharves

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www.justcurious.ca

Header Image: Georgia O’Keefe.  Yellow Cactus. 1929
Image 2: Georgia O’Keefe. Hibiscus with Plumeria. 1939