Plural of Census
The Quick Answer
The plural of "census" is "censuses," despite its Latin origins.The Plural of Census
The plural of "census" is "censuses." "Census" derives from Latin, but the Latin plural "census" (with a long "oo" sound for the "u") is not used. "Censi" (which some people think is the Latin plural) has never been a plural form.- Censuses were originally the only method of collecting national demographic data.
- Population censuses rely on a sampling frame to count the population.
Are You Good at Plurals?
Here's a quick test.The Standard Rules for Forming the Plurals
The table below shows the standard rules for forming the plurals of nouns in English.Type | Example of Type | Forming the Plural | Plural |
---|---|---|---|
Most Nouns | lamp scythe |
add s | lamps scythes |
Noun Ending s, sh, ch, x or z | dress census |
add es | dresses censuses (Unlike some words with foreign stems (e.g., nucleus with the plural "nuclei"), "census" forms its plural using the standard rules of English.) |
Nouns ending [consonant] o | hero zero tomato |
add either s or es (There are no rules for this - you have to know.) |
heroes zeros tomatoes |
Nouns ending [vowel] o | patio ratio |
add s | patios ratios |
Nouns ending [consonant] y | story penny |
change the y to an i and add es | stories pennies |
Nouns ending [vowel] y | donkey chimney |
add s | donkeys chimneys |
Nouns ending f or fe | dwarf hoof |
ves and/or s (There are no rules - you have to know.) |
dwarfs hooves or hoofs |
Exceptions | man louse |
some nouns undergo a vowel or letters change | men lice |
More exceptions | salmon sheep |
some nouns do not change at all | salmon sheep |
Foreign rulings | census medium |
some nouns adopt foreign rulings | (The Latin plural "census" (with a long u) is not used.) media |
Why Is There Confusion over the Plural of Census?
The rules for pluralizing Latin nouns (like "census") are inconsistent. For example:- Some retain their Latin plural:
- Some have dropped their Latin plural:
- referendum becomes "referendums"
- datum becomes "datums" ("Data" can now be considered a new word meaning information.)
- Some use both plurals:
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