Gemini24601@lemmy.world to Memes@lemmy.ml · 1 year agooctopuslemmy.worldimagemessage-square57fedilinkarrow-up10arrow-down10
arrow-up10arrow-down1imageoctopuslemmy.worldGemini24601@lemmy.world to Memes@lemmy.ml · 1 year agomessage-square57fedilink
minus-squareRopianos@feddit.orglinkfedilinkarrow-up0·1 year agoThe Latin origin. Words ending on -us turn almost always into -i in plural in Latin. And that’s where it comes from (octo eight, pus/pes foot).
minus-squareLeviathan@lemmy.worldlinkfedilinkarrow-up0·1 year agoIt’s Greek, not Latin. It should be octopodes.
minus-squareManifish_Destiny@lemmy.worldlinkfedilinkarrow-up0·1 year agoOctopuses is correct if you’re referring to many different species of octopus. Octopi would be correct if you’re referring to a cluster of one species of octopus.
minus-squarenull@slrpnk.netlinkfedilinkarrow-up0·1 year ago Octopi would be correct if you’re referring to a cluster of one species of octopus. Based on what?
minus-squaremarcos@lemmy.worldlinkfedilinkarrow-up0·1 year agoBecause people use it, and if you say it everybody will understand without any ambiguity.
minus-squarenull@slrpnk.netlinkfedilinkarrow-up0·edit-21 year agoThen the meme is formatted incorrectly. Or “correctly”, if we define correct as “incorrect, but, you get it, so…”
minus-squarePoik@pawb.sociallinkfedilinkarrow-up0·1 year agoExcept, usage defines language. If it didn’t, English wouldn’t exist. Therefore, usage is correct when people understand and use it.
minus-squarePoik@pawb.sociallinkfedilinkarrow-up0·1 year agoThen why are you saying it’s incorrectly formatted? I’m directly backing its premise.
Why is octopi correct? Based on what?
The Latin origin. Words ending on -us turn almost always into -i in plural in Latin. And that’s where it comes from (octo eight, pus/pes foot).
It’s Greek, not Latin. It should be octopodes.
This is the one.
Octopuses is correct if you’re referring to many different species of octopus. Octopi would be correct if you’re referring to a cluster of one species of octopus.
Based on what?
Because people use it, and if you say it everybody will understand without any ambiguity.
Then the meme is formatted incorrectly. Or “correctly”, if we define correct as “incorrect, but, you get it, so…”
Except, usage defines language. If it didn’t, English wouldn’t exist. Therefore, usage is correct when people understand and use it.
That’s what I said.
Then why are you saying it’s incorrectly formatted? I’m directly backing its premise.