What is the correct plural fo the word "allosaurus"? Is is "allosauruses" or "allosauri"

Answer 1

My understanding of the standard English convention is that the taxonomic Latin name should be used only in the nominative singular. In other words, using the Latin plural for a species name (allosauri in this case) is frowned upon in favor of either allosaurs or "allosaurus herd (pair, family, etc.)."

Answer 2

Allosaurus Scientific Name

Answer 3

Correctness in English depends whether you support prescriptive or descriptive grammar.

If you support descriptive grammar then it is acceptible to add '-s' or '-es' to make a plural from most words derived from foreign languages. The reason for this is because it follows the pattern of the English language, everyone will know what you are talking about, and there's no loss of meaning. So it is okay to say allosauruses, or even allosuars which is the plural of allosaur.

If you support the prescriptive point of view, then a word like "allosaurus" which is made in the fashion of a Latin word should have a Latin plural like "allosauri". But if you use this plural, please pronounce it using the Latin sounds for the vowels; like aal-low-sawr-ee not ay-low-sawr-eye.

For whatever reason, plural suffixes aren't used with fish names in English. Examples: "I saw two trout in the stream", "I would like two tilapia, to go please"

Here are some other examples where descriptive grammar allows you to form an allowed plural using '-s' or '-es'.

cherub {Hebrew} --> cherubs instead of cherubim is okay.

criterion {Greek} --> criterions instead of criteria is okay.

kimono {Japanese} --> kimonos is okay even though Japanese does not have a plural for kimono.

patrone {Italian} --> patrones instead of patroni is okay.

Brahman {Bharati} --> Brahmans instead of Brahmani is okay.

datum {Latin}--> datums or dats does not work instead of data. This one is too awkward because data is more established.

Answer 4

The first person was correct - it has the same form in both the singular and the plural. Allosaurus.

Answer 5

While the above answers are right in a way, I think this exact word is actually an exception. I believe the plural in use is allosauruses, however illogical that sounds.

WordWeb Online, dictionary and thesaurus, states:

Noun: allosaurus
Late Jurassic carnivorous dinosaur; similar to but somewhat smaller than tyrannosaurus
- allosaur
Derived forms: allosauruses

Type of: bird-footed dinosaur, theropod, theropod dinosaur
Encyclopedia: Allosaurus

http://www.wordwebonline.com/en/ALLOSAURUS

Aslo, this dictionary:
http://www.thefreedictionary.com/allosauruses

and this article:
http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=27686
("Allosauruses are believed to be a close relative of the tyrannosaurus rex, differing from the T-rex primarily in size and cranial capacity.")


use the same plural.

Answer 6

Just allosaurus. Like elk or bison.

Answer 7

Plural

Allosauri in Latin.
Maybe in scientific English too, like focus -> foci.

Allosaurs in English. (Like dinosaurs)

Answer 8

allosauri I believe