Syllabus vs. Syllabi

[MsNyree]

I know that syllabus is singular and syllabi are plural. How would I write someone having two syllabuses?

Which one is correct?

My English teacher passed out two syllabuses.

My English teacher passed out two syllabi or syllabi’s.

[Anglika]

Though technically the plural is syllabi, the accepted plural is syllabuses. I would stick with it.

[fiona bramble]

Originally Posted by MsNyree

I know that syllabus is singular and syllabi are plural. How would I write someone having two syllabuses?

Which one is correct?

My English teacher passed out two syllabuses.

My English teacher passed out two syllabi or syllabi’s.

Anglika is right. If you want to use "syllabi" though, remember that it is already in plural form, so you would not add an "s" (as you did above)!

[Mr. Morrison]

Both are in common usage therefore both are correct. However, since syllabus is derived from Greek, just as octopus and hippopotamus are, the prescriptive grammarian would prefer syllabuses just as they would prefer octopuses and hippopotamuses. If the etymology had been Latin, then just like alumni and foci, the answer would have been syllabi. Nevertheless, English grammar is descriptive rather than prescriptive and since there are two ways of saying it, you can decide. Unfortunately, whichever word you choose, you are likely to irritate someone who uses the other version and is convinced that his or her version is the only correct one.

[BobK]

Originally Posted by Mr. Morrison

... If the etymology had been Latin, then just like alumni and foci, the answer would have been syllabi. ...

I've no idea where this 'syllabi' monstrosity comes from - well, I have, really. Most latin nouns ending in -us are in the second declension, and have the plural -i. Syllabus is in the fourth (because, as you say, it is derived from Greek), and has the plural syllabūs: Latin Nouns of the Fourth Declension - Endings, AskOxford: What are the plurals of 'octopus', 'hippopotamus', 'syllabus'?

Fortunately for my blood-pressure, the erroneous syllabi is becoming less common because of the rise of 'syllabuses'. Use that, and in the presence of Latin scholars, if you must, use syllabūs.

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