A pet peeve of mine...

Mike777 · 04-30-2008, 02:56 PM

I hate it when people use "Airbii" as the plural of "Airbus". This word is all over the Airliners.net forums... I don't get it; the plural of "bus" isn't "bii", so why should the plural of "Airbus" be "Airbii"? It souldn't. I think people are overcomplicating the grammar rules of plurals.

There are a few instances in English where the correct plural of a noun ending in "us" is indeed formed by replacing the "us" with "i" (fungus/fungi), but this is because the English word has retained its original Latin plural. Seeing as how "Airbus" is a proper noun created long after the demise of Latin, the proper English plural is to simply add "es". Thus, "Airbuses" is the proper plural form, and it looks and sounds much better than "Airbii".

FYI, it would technically be "Airbi" (with only 1 "i") anyway; whenever there is an irregular English plural ending in "ii", such as radii (plural of radius), the only reason there are two i's is because the first one already exists in the singular form. Thus, in the example of radius/radii, the "us" is dropped and one "i" added, just as in fungus/fungi.

On a similar note, I hate it when people use "antennae" as the plural of "antenna" (such as a VHF antenna on plane). "Antennae" is the correct plural of an insect antenna, but the plural of a radio antenna is simply "antennas".

Ok, sorry for the rant! Just had to get it out there. I can be a grammar geek at times.

1:200Freak · 04-30-2008, 02:58 PM

Great post

Mike777 · 04-30-2008, 03:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1:200Freak


	Great post

Heh, thanks. I saw "Airbii" four times in about ten minutes of browsing the Airliners.net forums, and felt I needed to air my annoyance somewhere.

Mystère · 04-30-2008, 03:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1:200Freak


	Great post

Great indeed ! There's always many scenarii...

N. Eberhard · 04-30-2008, 04:34 PM

I think people are just having some 'grammar fun'.

1:200Freak · 04-30-2008, 04:36 PM

air·bus or air bus

(âr

b

s

) n. pl. air·bus·es or air·bus·ses A commercial passenger jet with a short to medium range.

airbus - definition of airbus by the Free Online Dictionary, Thesaurus and Encyclopedia.

It gets even more bizzare...airbusses

Mike777 · 04-30-2008, 04:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by N. Eberhard


	I think people are just having some 'grammar fun'.

Perhaps. And I'm just having mine.

Groover158 · 05-01-2008, 08:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1:200Freak

air·bus or air bus(ârbs) n. pl. air·bus·es or air·bus·ses A commercial passenger jet with a short to medium range.

airbus - definition of airbus by the Free Online Dictionary, Thesaurus and Encyclopedia.

It gets even more bizzare...airbusses

What! No long range Airbuses? I thought that was the whole point of the A345.

swisshansa10 · 05-01-2008, 11:56 AM

How about using Luftis for Lufthanseats and Swissis for Swisseats or whatever they may be called

N. Eberhard · 05-01-2008, 12:15 PM

I just sent someone numerous Qantii 767 models. Hey, it is easier to say than Qantaseses.

1:200Freak · 05-01-2008, 02:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1:200Freak

air·bus or air bus(ârbs) n. pl. air·bus·es or air·bus·ses A commercial passenger jet with a short to medium range.

airbus - definition of airbus by the Free Online Dictionary, Thesaurus and Encyclopedia.

It gets even more bizzare...airbusses

Quote:

Originally Posted by Groover158


	What! No long range Airbuses? I thought that was the whole point of the A345.

I guess they decided to increase the ses on the word, but on the actual range of the plane!

Horizon CRJ700 · 05-05-2008, 01:47 AM

Wow, some people aint getting a very well edjumication in skool. I do good in school; i almost have all cs.

04-30-2008, 02:56 PM	#1
Mike777 Insane Collector Join Date: Aug 2003 Posts: 1,097 Country:	A pet peeve of mine... I hate it when people use "Airbii" as the plural of "Airbus". This word is all over the Airliners.net forums... I don't get it; the plural of "bus" isn't "bii", so why should the plural of "Airbus" be "Airbii"? It souldn't. I think people are overcomplicating the grammar rules of plurals. There are a few instances in English where the correct plural of a noun ending in "us" is indeed formed by replacing the "us" with "i" (fungus/fungi), but this is because the English word has retained its original Latin plural. Seeing as how "Airbus" is a proper noun created long after the demise of Latin, the proper English plural is to simply add "es". Thus, "Airbuses" is the proper plural form, and it looks and sounds much better than "Airbii". FYI, it would technically be "Airbi" (with only 1 "i") anyway; whenever there is an irregular English plural ending in "ii", such as radii (plural of radius), the only reason there are two i's is because the first one already exists in the singular form. Thus, in the example of radius/radii, the "us" is dropped and one "i" added, just as in fungus/fungi. On a similar note, I hate it when people use "antennae" as the plural of "antenna" (such as a VHF antenna on plane). "Antennae" is the correct plural of an insect antenna, but the plural of a radio antenna is simply "antennas". Ok, sorry for the rant! Just had to get it out there. I can be a grammar geek at times. Last edited by Mike777; 04-30-2008 at 04:03 PM.

04-30-2008, 02:58 PM	#2
1:200Freak AP-BHV / AP-BHW / AP-BID Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Toronto Posts: 2,493 Country:	Re: A pet peeve of mine... Great post

04-30-2008, 04:34 PM	#5
N. Eberhard Dr. Diecast I presume? Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Port Orchard, WA Age: 44 Posts: 3,166 Country:	Re: A pet peeve of mine... I think people are just having some 'grammar fun'.

05-01-2008, 11:56 AM	#9
swisshansa10 swisshansa Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: MNL Posts: 50 Country:	Re: A pet peeve of mine... How about using Luftis for Lufthanseats and Swissis for Swisseats or whatever they may be called

05-01-2008, 12:15 PM	#10
N. Eberhard Dr. Diecast I presume? Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Port Orchard, WA Age: 44 Posts: 3,166 Country:	Re: A pet peeve of mine... I just sent someone numerous Qantii 767 models. Hey, it is easier to say than Qantaseses.

05-05-2008, 01:47 AM	#12
Horizon CRJ700 Avid Collector Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Somewhere under the easterly approach flight-path for PDX Age: 16 Posts: 279 Country:	Re: A pet peeve of mine... Wow, some people aint getting a very well edjumication in skool. I do good in school; i almost have all cs.

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Rate This Thread
Rate This Thread: