Styluses or styli???

[hucsman]

I thought it was styli, but the pdair publicity says styluses...

[Fez]

Styli, I even asked my grammar teacher.

[Joel]

Merriam-Webster (http://www.m-w.com/cgi-bin/dictionary?book=Dictionary&va=stylus&x=0&y=0) says that it’s both styli and styluses.

Which brings us to the plural of mouse (the computer mouse). Some say it’s OK to say “mouses” because we are referring to an object and not to the animal.

[UFG]

I prefer styluses because styli sounds stupid.

On the other hand, people who say mouses are weird.

[hucsman]

So can I say "funguses"?

[mathwhiz99atucb]

So is it "viruses" or "virii"?

I know for octopus, the plural is "octopi" and for cactus, plural is "cacti"?

[Fez]

Yes, and yes.

[mike p]

i say styluses

[anitanium]

i like stylii

[bcavanau]

I actually prefer "pokey thing" ;)



Not really, but who really cares....whatever you call it people will know what you are talking about......

[GodOwnsAnNX80]

One deer, two deer.
One stylus, two stylus.

[marukosu]

"Styli" is the long-time favourite, but most latin-derived pluralizations are dying off. "Styluses" is gaining ground because it conforms to the rules of English, rather than to vestiges of another language.

New meanings for old words, like computer "mouses," or old words which have come back into prominence such as "stylus" or "forum" are naturally conforming to standard English pluralization rather than archaic irregular forms. (Admit it, it just 'feels' wrong to refer to the computer devices as, "I have two mice.")

As words like "styluses" and "forums" gain ground, they naturally pull other words along with them. Within a decade or two, "cacti" or "fora" will sound as archaic as writing "aeroplane."



Yes, I'm a grammar teacher too... ;)

[Musulsa]

That's so sad.

FIGHT THE STUPIDS!

[imadrin]

actually, octopuses has replaced octopi officially. I don't remember where I read this, but I'm fairly certain of this.

Too bad. I really like latin and its influence on English.

[KwaiFeh]

I agree with Marokosu.

The correct way would be styli, because of grammar rules, and all that... but i think most people don't really bother to go by the book on grammar for new tech stuff.

I've heard expressions like "after scanning you have to JPEG the image before sending it". you see this more often in other languages who take english terms into their day to day use.

[GodOwnsAnNX80]

Languages are dynamic, living, changing creatures and this is a great example. This is why we don't speak the King's English anymore. A lot of people have a hard time accepting that a language is supposed to change over time, and things like ghetto talk or southern hick talk are just different dialects of American english just as valid as dialects of german or russian. I almost have my grandmother (english teacher, and knows probably 6 other languages) ready to accept it. :)

[marukosu]

GodOwns is right on the money (well, except for the "King's English part, since there hasn't been a king for quite a while now ;) )

Funny how English teachers are often the last ones to accept changes in the language!

(BTW, I realize that this is getting waaaay off-topic now. Sorry, I can't resist discussing this stuff.) :rolleyes: