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Plural of Census

What Is the Plural of Census?

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The Quick Answer

The plural of "census" is "censuses," despite its Latin origins.
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. correct tick
  • Population censuses rely on a sampling frame to count the population. correct tick

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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 census
(The Latin plural "census" (with a long u) is not used.)
media
Read more about English spelling rules.

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" correct tick
    • datum becomes "datums" correct tick
    • ("Data" can now be considered a new word meaning information.)
  • Some use both plurals:
    • syllabus becomes "syllabuses" or "syllabi" correct tick
    • formula becomes "formulas" or "formulae" correct tick
"Census" falls into the second category. It has dropped its Latin plural.
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This page was written by Craig Shrives.

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