The Complete Guide to the Plural Form of “Syllabus”: Rules, Usage, and Common Errors

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2. INTRODUCTION

The word “syllabus” is a cornerstone of academic and professional communication. It appears in classrooms, universities, corporate training programs, and publishing. But what happens when you have more than one? The plural form of “syllabus” is a unique case in English, offering more than one correct version—each influenced by the word’s Latin origins.

Understanding the correct pluralization of syllabus is essential for precise, professional communication, especially in education, academic writing, publishing, and formal documentation. Using the right form conveys attention to detail and respect for linguistic conventions.

This guide is designed for students, teachers, editors, academic writers, and advanced English learners seeking to master this important nuance. You will learn about definitions, rules, common errors, usage patterns, advanced nuances, and practice what you learn with targeted exercises.

In this article, you’ll find:

  • Clear definitions and etymology of “syllabus”
  • Detailed discussion of pluralization rules in English and Latin
  • Comparisons of accepted and incorrect forms
  • Dozens of real-world and constructed examples
  • Tables and charts for quick reference
  • Practice exercises with answer keys
  • Advanced topics and frequently asked questions (FAQ)

Table of Contents

3. DEFINITION SECTION

3.1. What Is a “Syllabus”?

A syllabus (noun; plural: syllabuses or syllabi) is a document outlining the main topics, readings, assignments, and policies for an academic course or professional training. Grammatically, it is a countable noun, since it describes discrete entities.

Etymology: The word syllabus comes from Latin, itself a misreading of the Greek word sittybos (meaning “title” or “list”). It entered English usage in the 17th century, primarily in educational settings.

3.2. Plural Forms of “Syllabus”

In English, pluralization means creating a form of a noun that refers to more than one of something. Most nouns add -s or -es (e.g., book → books). However, syllabus is unique because it has two accepted plural forms:

  • syllabuses (regular English plural)
  • syllabi (Latin plural)

Both forms are grammatically correct and recognized in modern English.

3.3. Function and Usage Contexts

The word syllabus is most commonly used in academic, educational, and professional settings. It appears in both spoken and written English: in conversations between teachers and students, course catalogs, academic publications, and educational websites.

Understanding its correct plural forms is especially important in formal writing, publishing, and academic communication.

4. STRUCTURAL BREAKDOWN

4.1. General Rules for Forming Plurals in English

Most English nouns form their plurals regularly by adding -s or -es. Others, often loans from other languages, use irregular pluralization. Understanding these patterns is crucial for mastering words like syllabus.

Singular Regular Plural Irregular Plural
book books –
class classes –
child – children
mouse – mice
syllabus syllabuses syllabi

4.2. Pluralization of Latin-Derived Nouns

Many English words come from Latin and retain their original plural forms. For example, nouns ending in -us often form their plural as -i in Latin, though English also allows regular plurals.

Singular (Latin) Plural (Latin) English Plural Notes
syllabus syllabi syllabuses Both forms accepted
cactus cacti cactuses Both forms accepted
fungus fungi funguses Both forms accepted
alumnus alumni – Latin plural preferred
curriculum curricula curriculums Both forms accepted

4.3. Plural Forms of “Syllabus”: Structure and Patterns

The word syllabus can be pluralized in two ways:

  • syllabuses — follows the standard English rule (-us → -uses), pronounced /’sɪl.ə.bəs.ɪz/
  • syllabi — follows the Latin rule (-us → -i), pronounced /’sɪl.ə.baɪ/

Both are correct, but their usage may vary by context, preference, and formality.

5. TYPES OR CATEGORIES

5.1. Accepted Plural Forms

Syllabuses is the regular English plural, widely accepted and used in general, modern, and informal contexts. Syllabi is the Latin plural, preferred in academic, traditional, or formal writing. Both are considered correct by major dictionaries and style guides.

Plural Form Usage Context Frequency (General) Style Register
syllabuses Modern, general, informal, most American English Common Neutral/Standard
syllabi Academic, formal, traditional, British English Less common Formal/Academic

5.2. Uncommon or Incorrect Pluralizations

Some forms are incorrect or misused:

  • syllabus’s — possessive singular, not plural (refers to ownership: “the syllabus’s format”)
  • syllabuses’ — possessive plural (ownership by more than one syllabus: “syllabuses’ objectives”)
  • syllabusses, syllabii — not standard, always incorrect

5.3. Contextual Preference by Region or Register

  • American English: “syllabuses” is more common, especially in informal speech and writing.
  • British English: Both forms are accepted, but “syllabi” may appear more often in academic or traditional contexts.
  • Academic/Formal: “syllabi” is often preferred in scholarly work, but “syllabuses” is not incorrect.
  • Informal/General: “syllabuses” is standard and widely understandable.

6. EXAMPLES SECTION

6.1. Examples of “Syllabuses” in Sentences

  1. All the syllabuses for next semester have been uploaded to the university portal.
  2. The teachers revised their course syllabuses to include more interactive activities.
  3. Three different syllabuses are being considered for the new English curriculum.
  4. Students compared the syllabuses of various science subjects before enrolling.
  5. The principal requested copies of all the syllabuses for review.
  6. Some syllabuses focus heavily on exams, while others emphasize projects.
  7. The department standardized the syllabuses across all sections.
  8. Teachers must submit their syllabuses by the end of the month.
  9. The online course platform provides downloadable syllabuses for each module.
  10. Comparing syllabuses from different universities can help students choose the right program.

6.2. Examples of “Syllabi” in Sentences

  1. Professors distributed their syllabi on the first day of class.
  2. The committee reviewed the syllabi for all graduate-level courses.
  3. She collected the syllabi from each instructor for accreditation purposes.
  4. All departmental syllabi must adhere to university guidelines.
  5. We compared the syllabi of international business programs.
  6. Some syllabi require weekly quizzes; others do not.
  7. The library keeps copies of past syllabi for reference.
  8. Students can access digital versions of their syllabi online.
  9. The school board is updating all syllabi to reflect new standards.
  10. Each semester, new syllabi are created for elective courses.

6.3. Comparative Examples: “Syllabuses” vs. “Syllabi”

Sentence with “Syllabuses” Sentence with “Syllabi”
The university updated all the syllabuses this summer. The university updated all the syllabi this summer.
We are collecting syllabuses from every instructor. We are collecting syllabi from every instructor.
Some departments use different syllabuses for each section. Some departments use different syllabi for each section.
Her research analyzed the syllabuses from ten universities. Her research analyzed the syllabi from ten universities.

6.4. Examples of Incorrect Usage (with corrections)

Incorrect Sentence Correction
All the syllabus’s were updated last week. All the syllabuses (or syllabi) were updated last week.
The department distributed new syllabusses to teachers. The department distributed new syllabuses (or syllabi) to teachers.
Please submit your syllabii by Friday. Please submit your syllabi or syllabuses by Friday.
The syllabuses’ outlines are different. The syllabuses’ outlines are different. (If possessive plural is intended, this is correct; otherwise, use syllabuses or syllabi.)
I have read many syllabus for this course. I have read many syllabuses (or syllabi) for this course.

6.5. Real-World Usage (from academic, business, and media contexts)

Source Sentence Plural Form Used
Oxford University Website Download course syllabuses for all undergraduate programs. syllabuses
Harvard Course Catalog All syllabi must be submitted by August 1. syllabi
New York Times Professors are updating their syllabuses to include online resources. syllabuses
Cambridge Assessment The examination board revised its syllabi for A-level subjects. syllabi
Corporate Training Manual All training syllabuses must include safety guidelines. syllabuses
British Council Sample syllabi are available for teachers worldwide. syllabi
Stanford University Archived syllabuses can be accessed online. syllabuses
Times Higher Education Institutions regularly review their syllabi for inclusivity. syllabi
University Newsletter Faculty are encouraged to diversify their syllabuses. syllabuses
Educational Policy Report The new standards affect all published syllabi. syllabi

6.6. Example Table: Plural Forms of Other Latin-derived Nouns

Singular Latin Plural English Plural Accepted Forms
syllabus syllabi syllabuses Both
cactus cacti cactuses Both
fungus fungi funguses Both
alumnus alumni – Latin only
curriculum curricula curriculums Both
medium media mediums Both (different meanings)
datum data datums Latin preferred
focus foci focuses Both
radius radii radiuses Both
stimulus stimuli stimuluses Both

7. USAGE RULES

7.1. When to Use “Syllabuses”

Use syllabuses when writing for general, modern, or informal audiences. It is the most common form in contemporary English, particularly in American English and general communication.

7.2. When to Use “Syllabi”

Use syllabi in academic, traditional, or formal contexts. It may be preferred in scholarly writing, academic publications, or when a traditional Latin form is desired.

7.3. Register and Audience Considerations

  • In academic writing, both forms are accepted, but consistency is essential.
  • For everyday speech or general writing, “syllabuses” is more natural.
  • Always check editorial or institutional style guides for preferred usage.

7.4. Plural Possessive Forms

To form the plural possessive:

  • syllabuses’ — belonging to more than one syllabus (e.g., “the syllabuses’ objectives”)
  • syllabi’s — belonging to more than one syllabus (e.g., “the syllabi’s requirements”)
Form Singular Plural Singular Possessive Plural Possessive
Regular syllabus syllabuses syllabus’s syllabuses’
Latin syllabus syllabi syllabus’s syllabi’s

Examples:

  • The syllabuses’ outlines were revised last semester.
  • The syllabi’s focus areas have changed over the years.

7.5. Special Cases and Exceptions

  • Compound nouns (e.g., “course syllabuses”) simply use the plural form of the main noun (“syllabuses” or “syllabi”).
  • Hyphenated phrases: Use the plural form as usual (e.g., “reading-list syllabuses”).
  • In coordinated phrases: “math and science syllabuses” or “math and science syllabi”.

8. COMMON MISTAKES

8.1. Misusing Plural Forms

  • Using syllabus’s as plural (should be possessive singular)
  • Adding extra “s” or “i” (e.g., “syllabusses,” “syllabii”)

8.2. Mixing Styles in a Single Text

Switching between syllabuses and syllabi in the same document can be confusing. Choose one form and use it consistently.

8.3. Overusing the Latin Plural

Using syllabi in casual contexts may sound overly formal or pretentious. Select the plural form that matches your audience and register.

8.4. Incorrect Possessive Pluralization

  • Wrong: “syllabus’s outlines” (if referring to multiple syllabuses)
  • Correct: “syllabuses’ outlines” or “syllabi’s outlines” (if referring to plural possessive)

8.5. Table: Common Mistakes and Corrections

Common Mistake Correction
syllabus’s (when plural is intended) syllabuses / syllabi
syllabusses syllabuses
syllabii syllabi
syllabuses’s syllabuses’
syllabi’s (when not possessive) syllabi
Mixing “syllabi” and “syllabuses” in one document Be consistent: use one form per document
syllabus (for more than one) syllabuses / syllabi
syllabus’ outlines (for one syllabus) syllabus’s outlines
syllabuses outlines (missing possessive apostrophe) syllabuses’ outlines
syllabi outlines (missing possessive apostrophe if ownership is meant) syllabi’s outlines

9. PRACTICE EXERCISES

Each exercise is followed by an answer key in section 9.6.

9.1. Fill-in-the-Blank Exercises

  1. The professors distributed their __________ on the first day.
  2. All __________ must be submitted to the department head.
  3. We compared the __________ of various courses.
  4. The students downloaded the latest __________ from the website.
  5. Each instructor updated their __________ before the semester started.
  6. The committee reviewed several __________ for accreditation.
  7. Some __________ focus on group projects.
  8. The online platform provides access to all course __________.
  9. He analyzed the __________ of different programs in his research.
  10. The school board revised all __________ according to new policies.

9.2. Correction Exercises

  1. Please submit your syllabus’s by Friday.
  2. All the syllabusses were updated last year.
  3. New syllabii are now available for students.
  4. The syllabuses’s topics were reviewed.
  5. We studied many syllabus in our research.
  6. The syllabi outlines are different.
  7. Each course has its own syllabus’s structure.
  8. Many syllabusses’ outlines were revised.
  9. The teacher created two syllabus for the summer term.
  10. Please check the syllabi’s carefully.

9.3. Identification Exercises

Indicate whether the plural form in each item is Correct or Incorrect.

  1. syllabuses
  2. syllabusses
  3. syllabi
  4. syllabii
  5. syllabus’s (plural intended)
  6. syllabuses’ (plural possessive)
  7. syllabi’s (possessive)
  8. syllabus (for several documents)

9.4. Multiple-Choice Questions

  1. Which is an accepted plural of “syllabus”?
    a) syllabusses
    b) syllabii
    c) syllabuses
    d) syllabus’s
  2. The professors updated their course __________.
    a) syllabi
    b) syllabusses
    c) syllabus’s
    d) syllabi’s
  3. Which form is not correct?
    a) syllabuses
    b) syllabi
    c) syllabii
    d) syllabuses’
  4. For formal academic writing, you might choose:
    a) syllabuses
    b) syllabi
    c) Both are correct
    d) None are correct
  5. The __________ outlines were revised.
    a) syllabuses
    b) syllabusses
    c) syllabus’s
    d) syllabii

9.5. Sentence Construction Exercises

  1. Write a sentence using “syllabuses” as the subject.
  2. Write a sentence using “syllabi” as the object.
  3. Write a sentence using “syllabuses’” (plural possessive).
  4. Write a sentence using “syllabi’s” (plural possessive).
  5. Write a sentence comparing “syllabuses” and “syllabi”.

9.6. Table: Exercise Answer Key

Exercise Answer/Sample Response
9.1.1 syllabi / syllabuses
9.1.2 syllabi / syllabuses
9.1.3 syllabi / syllabuses
9.1.4 syllabi / syllabuses
9.1.5 syllabi / syllabuses
9.1.6 syllabi / syllabuses
9.1.7 syllabi / syllabuses
9.1.8 syllabi / syllabuses
9.1.9 syllabi / syllabuses
9.1.10 syllabi / syllabuses
9.2.1 syllabi / syllabuses
9.2.2 syllabuses / syllabi
9.2.3 syllabi / syllabuses
9.2.4 syllabuses’ / syllabi’s
9.2.5 syllabi / syllabuses
9.2.6 syllabi’s outlines / syllabuses’ outlines
9.2.7 syllabus’s structure (if singular); syllabuses’ / syllabi’s structure (if plural possessive)
9.2.8 syllabuses’ outlines / syllabi’s outlines
9.2.9 syllabi / syllabuses
9.2.10 syllabi / syllabuses (if plural); syllabi’s / syllabuses’ (if possessive plural)
9.3.1 Correct
9.3.2 Incorrect
9.3.3 Correct
9.3.4 Incorrect
9.3.5 Incorrect
9.3.6 Correct
9.3.7 Correct
9.3.8 Incorrect
9.4.1 c) syllabuses
9.4.2 a) syllabi
9.4.3 c) syllabii
9.4.4 c) Both are correct
9.4.5 a) syllabuses
9.5.1 The syllabuses for the new courses are available online.
9.5.2 She compared several syllabi before choosing her classes.
9.5.3 The syllabuses’ objectives were discussed during the meeting.
9.5.4 The syllabi’s requirements were clearly outlined.
9.5.5 Some prefer to use syllabuses, while others prefer syllabi.

10. ADVANCED TOPICS

10.1. Historical Development of “Syllabus” Plurals

Originally, syllabus was adopted from Latin, where the plural would be syllabi. Over time, as English speakers became less familiar with Latin, the regular English plural syllabuses developed. Today, both forms coexist due to a combination of historical tradition and the natural evolution of English.

10.2. Comparative Frequency in Modern English

Corpus data reveal that syllabuses is more common in general English, while syllabi appears more frequently in academic or formal writing.

Context syllabuses (per 1 million words) syllabi (per 1 million words)
General Media 8 2
Academic Journals 3 7
Educational Websites 6 4

10.3. Pluralization of Other Latin Words in English

Many Latin words in English have both Latin and English plurals. For instance:

  • alumnus → alumni (Latin plural only)
  • cactus → cacti/cactuses
  • curriculum → curricula/curriculums
  • fungus → fungi/funguses
  • focus → foci/focuses

Some words, such as alumnus, only use the Latin plural, while others accept both.

10.4. Pluralization in Non-Native English Varieties

In many ESL/EFL (English as a Second/Foreign Language) contexts, syllabuses is taught as the standard plural due to its regularity and ease of use. Teachers are advised to introduce “syllabi” as an alternative, especially for advanced learners and those working in academic environments.

10.5. Editorial and Style Guide Recommendations

  • APA Style: Both forms accepted; recommends consistency.
  • MLA Style: Both forms accepted; consistency within a document is important.
  • Chicago Manual of Style: Both forms accepted, with a preference for “syllabuses” in general writing.
  • Oxford Style Manual: Both forms accepted; “syllabi” may be preferred in formal academic contexts.

11. FAQ SECTION

  1. What is the correct plural of “syllabus”?
    Both syllabuses and syllabi are correct.
  2. Is “syllabi” more formal than “syllabuses”?
    Generally, yes—”syllabi” is preferred in formal or academic writing, but “syllabuses” is also widely accepted.
  3. Can I use “syllabi” in American English?
    Yes, “syllabi” is recognized in American English, especially in academic contexts.
  4. Why are there two plural forms for “syllabus”?
    One is the regular English plural (“syllabuses”), and the other is the Latin plural (“syllabi”).
  5. Which form should I use in academic writing?
    Both are acceptable; check your institution’s style guide and be consistent.
  6. Is “syllabuses” considered incorrect?
    No, “syllabuses” is correct and commonly used.
  7. How do I form the possessive plural of “syllabus”?
    Use “syllabuses’” (regular) or “syllabi’s” (Latin) for plural possessive.
  8. Can other Latin words in English have two plurals?
    Yes, many do (e.g., “cactus” → “cacti/cactuses”).
  9. What do style guides recommend?
    Most allow both forms; consistency is key.
  10. Is there a difference in meaning between “syllabi” and “syllabuses”?
    No, the meaning is the same; only the form differs.
  11. Are both forms interchangeable in all contexts?
    Yes, but choose one for consistency and match the register of your audience.
  12. Why do some spellcheckers flag “syllabi”?
    Some spellcheckers may not be updated or may prefer the regular plural, but “syllabi” is correct.

12. CONCLUSION

In summary, both syllabuses and syllabi are correct plural forms of syllabus. The choice depends on context, audience, and register—”syllabuses” for general use and “syllabi” for more formal or academic settings. Consistency and awareness of your audience are crucial for clear, professional communication.

Consult style guides when in doubt, and practice with real examples to gain confidence. Mastering pluralization, especially of Latin-derived words, is an excellent way to polish your English and demonstrate linguistic accuracy.

Understanding these nuances will help you communicate with clarity, precision, and professionalism in all your academic and professional writing.

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