• marcos@lemmy.world
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      3 months ago

      Because people use it, and if you say it everybody will understand without any ambiguity.

      • null@slrpnk.net
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        3 months ago

        Then the meme is formatted incorrectly. Or “correctly”, if we define correct as “incorrect, but, you get it, so…”

        • Poik@pawb.social
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          3 months ago

          Except, usage defines language. If it didn’t, English wouldn’t exist. Therefore, usage is correct when people understand and use it.

            • Poik@pawb.social
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              3 months ago

              Then why are you saying it’s incorrectly formatted? I’m directly backing its premise.

              • null@slrpnk.net
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                3 months ago

                “Octopi” is only “correct” because of common usage. Octopus does not have a Latin origin, so it doesn’t make sense to pluralize it that way. Which is to say it’s not technically correct, it’s just “correct”.

                In the proper format of this meme, the wojack in the middle should be obsessed with technical correctness, while the one on the right is fine with merely “correctness” (as in, enough people use it to make it understood).

                But since you can understand it, the format is merely “correct” (I’m being tongue-in-cheek to make a point)

    • Manifish_Destiny@lemmy.world
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      3 months ago

      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.

      • null@slrpnk.net
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        3 months ago

        Octopi would be correct if you’re referring to a cluster of one species of octopus.

        Based on what?

    • Ropianos@feddit.org
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      3 months ago

      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).