Ever flipped through a stack of papers at the beginning of a class and wondered what to call them all? Yep, those course outlines with all the important information are called syllabi. But wait, is it actually “syllabuses”? Fear not, this age-old question has a surprisingly simple answer. Let’s dive in and see what the deal is with the plural of “syllabus.”
What is Syllabus?
Before we tackle the plural of “syllabus,” let’s make sure we’re on the same page about what a syllabus actually is. A syllabus is like a roadmap for your class. It’s a document, usually handed out at the beginning of the semester or term, that outlines everything you need to know about the course.
Here’s what you’ll typically find in a syllabus:
- Course Description: A brief overview of what the course will cover.
- Learning Objectives: What you’re expected to learn by the end of the course.
- Required Readings and Materials: Textbooks, articles, or other resources you’ll need to purchase or access.
- Course Schedule: A week-by-week breakdown of topics, assignments, and readings.
- Grading Policies: How your work will be evaluated and how your final grade will be calculated.
- Attendance and Participation Expectations: What the professor expects in terms of showing up and engaging in class.
- Late Work Policy: What happens if you miss a deadline.
- Academic Integrity Statement: Information about plagiarism and cheating.
- Professor Contact Information: How to reach the professor outside of class with questions.
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Plural of Syllabus: Syllabuses or Syllabi?
When you’ve got a stack of those course outlines, what’s the correct way to refer to them all?
The good news is, you have two perfectly acceptable options:
- Syllabuses: This follows the standard English pluralization rule by adding “-es” to the end.
- Syllabi: This is the more traditional, Latin-based plural form.
Both “syllabuses” and “syllabi” are widely used and understood in both US and UK English. So, you can choose whichever one feels more natural to you.
Here’s a fun fact:
The word “syllabus” itself comes from Latin, where the plural form would be “syllabi.” However, over time, many English words with Latin roots have adopted the standard “-es” pluralization. So, “syllabuses” is also considered perfectly correct.
Some Nouns ending with ‘-us’ and their Plurals
| Noun | English Plural | Latin Plural |
|---|---|---|
| Cactus | Cactuses | Cacti |
| Focus | Focuses | Foci |
| Radius | Radiuses | Radii |
| Syllabus | Syllabuses | Syllabi |
| Alumnus | Alumni | Alumni |
| Nucleus | Nucleuses | Nuclei |
| Stimulus | Stimuli | Stimuli |
| Fungus | Funguses | Fungi |
| Virus | Viruses | Viruses |
| Corpus | Corpora | Corpora |
| Genus | Genera | Genera |
What about Syllaboi?
You might have noticed “Syllaboi” wasn’t included in the table of plurals for “syllabus.” While it’s certainly an interesting guess, “Syllaboi” isn’t actually a recognized plural form.
The word “syllabus” has Latin roots, and in Latin, the plural would be formed by adding “-i.” However, over time, many English words with Latin origins have adopted the standard English pluralization rule of adding “-es.”
So, while “syllabi” retains the Latin influence, and “syllabuses” follows the standard English pattern, both are perfectly acceptable ways to refer to the plural of “syllabus.” “Syllaboi,” however, is not a widely used or grammatically correct plural form.
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Origins of the Word “Syllabus”
The journey of the word “syllabus” from its obscure beginnings to your everyday class outline is quite interesting! Here’s a breakdown of its etymology:
-
Misunderstood Latin: Our story starts with a misreading in a 15th-century edition of Cicero’s letters. The original Latin word for a “parchment label” or “table of contents” was “sittyba.” However, it was mistakenly printed as “syllabus” in some versions.
-
False Link to Greek: Early attempts to explain “syllabus” mistakenly connected it to the Greek word “σύλλαβος” (sullabos) meaning “syllable.” This association likely came from the similar-looking stems “sylla-” in both words.
-
Modern Meaning Emerges: Despite the initial confusion, “syllabus” stuck around. Over time, it came to refer to a document outlining a course of study, likely influenced by its original meaning of a “table of contents.” The first recorded use of “syllabus” in this context appeared in the 1650s.
Examples in Context (Singular and Plural)
Singular (“Syllabus”)
- Professor Jones handed out the syllabus on the first day of class.
- I reviewed the syllabus carefully to understand the grading policies.
- The online syllabus is available for students who missed the first day.
- Be sure to bring your syllabus to the next class for a quiz.
- I need to print out a copy of the syllabus before the deadline.
Plural (“Syllabuses”)
- The department chair reviewed all the new syllabuses before the semester began.
- Students often compare their syllabuses to get a sense of the workload across different courses.
- Many universities provide templates for instructors to design their syllabuses.
- The online platform allows professors to share their syllabuses with students.
- Don’t forget to check the due dates listed in your different syllabuses.
Plural (“Syllabi”)
- The department chair reviewed all the new syllabi before the semester began.
- Students often compare their syllabi to get a sense of the workload across different courses.
- Many universities provide templates for instructors to design their syllabi.
- The online platform allows professors to share their syllabi with students.
- Don’t forget to check the due dates listed in your different syllabi.
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Synonyms for the Word “Syllabus”
Formal:
-
- Course outline
- Curriculum guide
- Learning guide
- Course compendium
Informal (use with caution):
-
- Course handout
- Course packet
- Course roadmap
- Course cheat sheet (avoid in formal contexts)
Conclusion
Now you’re armed with the knowledge of both “syllabuses” and “syllabi” as the plural forms for “syllabus.” Remember, both are perfectly acceptable ways to refer to a stack of course outlines. So, the next time you encounter a pile of learning materials, feel free to confidently call them by their plural name – whichever one rolls off the tongue more easily for you!
Sources
Merriam-Webster (Syllabus Definition & Meaning), Wikipedia (Syllabus), Etymonline (syllabus | Etymology of syllabus by etymonline) and Cambridge Dictionary (SYLLABUS – 59 Synonyms and Antonyms – Cambridge English).
