Plural of curriculum
The Quick Answer
The plural of "curriculum" is "curricula" or "curriculums."The Plural of Curriculum
Both "curricula" and "curriculums" are accepted plurals of "curriculum."- Universities are inserting more vocational skills into their curriculums to improve the employability of their students.
- The President subsequently instructed higher educational institutions to update their curricula to include value-based education to build the "character" of students.
The noun "curriculum" has a Latin root, which is the derivation of the plural "curricula." "Curriculums" (which adheres to the standard rules for forming plurals) is also an accepted plural.
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 curriculum |
add s | lamps scythes curriculums |
Noun Ending s, sh, ch, x or z | dress bus |
add es | dresses buses |
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 | curriculum medium |
some nouns adopt foreign rulings | curricula media |
Why Is There Confusion over the Plural of Curriculum?
Confusion arises over the plural of "curriculum" because its plural form ("curricula") derives from Latin, and native English speakers are unsure whether "curriculums," which adheres to the standard ruling for forming plurals, has come into use. Many words with Latin roots (e.g., "nucleus," "stadium," "referendum") have either adopted a standard plural ending alongside the Latin one or have dropped the Latin one entirely (e.g., "referendums" but "referenda" ). Some have fully maintained their Latin plural (e.g., "stimuli" but "stimuluses" ).With "curriculum," both plural forms are acceptable, but "curricula" is the most common by far. [evidence]
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