• 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.

    • 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).

    • 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?