Gemini24601@lemmy.worldcake to Memes@lemmy.ml · 2 months agooctopuslemmy.worldimagemessage-square55fedilinkarrow-up11arrow-down10
arrow-up11arrow-down1imageoctopuslemmy.worldGemini24601@lemmy.worldcake to Memes@lemmy.ml · 2 months agomessage-square55fedilink
minus-squareManifish_Destiny@lemmy.worldlinkfedilinkarrow-up0·2 months 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-up0·2 months ago Octopi would be correct if you’re referring to a cluster of one species of octopus. Based on what?
minus-squaremarcos@lemmy.worldlinkfedilinkarrow-up0·2 months agoBecause people use it, and if you say it everybody will understand without any ambiguity.
minus-squarenull@slrpnk.netlinkfedilinkarrow-up0·edit-22 months agoThen the meme is formatted incorrectly. Or “correctly”, if we define correct as “incorrect, but, you get it, so…”
minus-squarePoik@pawb.sociallinkfedilinkarrow-up0·2 months 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-up0·2 months agoThen why are you saying it’s incorrectly formatted? I’m directly backing its premise.
minus-squareRopianos@feddit.orglinkfedilinkarrow-up0·2 months 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-up0·2 months agoIt’s Greek, not Latin. It should be octopodes.
Why is octopi correct? Based on what?
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.
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.