Curricula vs. Curriculums

[Erin]

So this is on my mind...

 

I never thought much of the general populace using curriculums as the plural of curriculum.  Consequently, seeing it on blogs, forum posts, etc. doesn't particularly bother me.  

But when did it become acceptable for those who should know better to use "curriculums" instead of "curricula?"

 

 

I just got the homeschool sale catalog from CBD and they're advertising all of their great "curriculums."

[Dandelion]

But when did it become acceptable for those who should know better to use "curriculums" instead of "curricula?"

 

It never became acceptable.  It just became commonplace.  ;)   It bothers me too.  Immensely. 

[Erin]

Like I said, I can ignore it when it's society at large, but a book company?  A book company selling curricula?  

They should know better.  

 

And Sadie, "ain't" is in the dictionary, too, so I'm not seeing where that's a particularly persuasive argument.  ;)

[Melissa in Australia]

I have always used the word curriculum as both singular and plural

[PachiSusan]

"funner" is in the dictionary now too. UGH. 

 

[Laura Corin]

I think that there is a difference between 'ain't' or 'funner' and 'curriculum/curricula'.  I wish that most people used 'curricula', but as foreign words are absorbed into English they lose their original forms.  I don't think I have seen a man described as 'naif' in English, but that's actually the masculine form of 'naive'.  

 

Inflections of 'naïf' (adj): f: naïve, mpl: naïfs, fpl: naïves

 

Now that 'naive' is an English word, it no longer follows the rules of its original language.

 

Laura (who can be as pedantic as the next woman, but really tries to restrain herself)

[kiwik]

I have always used the word curriculum as both singular and plural

Me too. Maybe it's a down under thing.

[Trish]

I just found out that the plural of 'octopus' is not octopi, because the word is Greek, not Latin.

 

:leaving:

[Kathryn]

I just found out that the plural of 'octopus' is not octopi, because the word is Greek, not Latin.

 

:leaving:

Well, you just taught me! From now on, I'll have to use octopodes.

[Parrothead]

Me too. Maybe it's a down under thing.

I use it as both form also. I'm just too lazy to look up the correct usage.

[Ellie]

I have no opinion, because the vast majority of homeschoolers misuse the word anyway, so it doesn't matter. :tongue_smilie:

 

For example, ABeka is a publisher, not a curriculum. Saxon 65 is textbook, not a curriculum. Writing Strands is instructional material, not a curriculum. So there you go. "Curriculum" is the course of study offered by an institution of education, not a stack of books.

 

So there's my hump day opinion. :tongue_smilie:

[Word Nerd]

I have no opinion, because the vast majority of homeschoolers misuse the word anyway, so it doesn't matter. :tongue_smilie:

 

 

They definitely use the word differently than school educators do. If you asked a school teacher what curriculum the school uses for math, she'd probably wonder what you meant, and the reply wouldn't be a simple one-word answer.

[Ellie]

They definitely use the word differently than school educators do. If you asked a school teacher what curriculum the school uses for math, she'd probably wonder what you meant, and the reply wouldn't be a simple one-word answer.

 

A classroom teacher would give you course descriptions. :-)

[Lara in Colo]

Last week I saw something on Craigslist that I wanted my dh to see.  I told him it was the third one down when he typed in homeschool.

 

He did and couldn't find it.  I told him homeschool.  One word.  He said "I have to misspell it?"  Yes dear, you do.

 

Language evolves.  Thank goodness or we would all still be speaking with thees and thous.

[Ellie]

Last week I saw something on Craigslist that I wanted my dh to see.  I told him it was the third one down when he typed in homeschool.

 

He did and couldn't find it.  I told him homeschool.  One word.  He said "I have to misspell it?"  Yes dear, you do.

 

"Homeschool" is misspelled? I've been writing it that way since 1982. o_0 There has never been a consensus on whether it is one word or two. Is that what you mean?

[Georgiana Daniels]

"Homeschool" is misspelled? I've been writing it that way since 1982. o_0 There has never been a consensus on whether it is one word or two. Is that what you mean?

 

Good gravy! I've always thought it was one word. I say we vote on it.

[Ellie]

Good gravy! I've always thought it was one word. I say we vote on it.

 

:cheers2:

 

Oh yay--another poll! :lol:

 

And then we can have one on whether we should say "home education" or "homeschool/home school." It's Wednesday!! Let's live dangerously!!

[Erin]

Good gravy! I've always thought it was one word.

Me too!  ...A compound word, like "watermelon."

[Ellie]

Me too!  ...A compound word, like "watermelon."

 

Or "homestead/homesteading" or "homemaking."

[Georgiana Daniels]

Well all the homeschooling curriculums say that's what it's called.

 

:P

[Erin]

OK, so I just looked it up at Dictionary.com

 

As "homeschool," it's defined as we expect.  First known use in 1980.  

As "home school" (entering it with a space), it's put back together and then given the above.  

[Peplophoros]

What about "forums" vs. "fora" ?  Fora is the correct (i.e. older) term, but it seems to be going out of usage.

[Ellie]

Well all the homeschooling curriculums say that's what it's called.

 

:p

 

:lol:

[Lara in Colo]

Well I have always spelled it with one word, homeschool (but it is red lined here just now as I am typing but home school is not).

But there really is no arguing with DH, so I just said "yes dear". 

 

BTW as a homeschooling mother, I should be able to spell my title anyway I want!!!! (as long as it obeys the rules of phonics)

[Violet Crown]

the correct (i.e. older) term,

I'm still scandalized that my iPad keyboard doesn't have a thorn, eth, or yogh. How is one supposed to spell in correct English when all the letters aren't there?

[bobbeym]

Am I real homeschooler if I say that finding out I've been using curriculums instead of curricula makes me feel bad?

 

I had no idea about the octopus.  It's nice to come here and learn something new. :)

[Lara in Colo]

Am I real homeschooler if I say that finding out I've been using curriculums instead of curricula makes me feel bad?

 

I had no idea about the octopus.  It's nice to come here and learn something new. :)

 

Ahhh, but are you a homeschooler or a homeschooling mother?  Does homeschooler mean the teacher --- or the student.

 

Or is the student the homeschooled?

 

Gosh this is so confusing--- we need to make our own dictionary!

[PachiSusan]

My automatic spell checker showed homeschool as wrong, but home school as correct, and leaves alone home-school. So I "taught" it to recognize homeschool and I'm fine, although I use home educate a lot instead. LOL  :lol:

[PachiSusan]

duplicate post - whoops!!  :auto:

[bobbeym]

Ahhh, but are you a homeschooler or a homeschooling mother?  Does homeschooler mean the teacher --- or the student.

 

Or is the student the homeschooled?

 

Gosh this is so confusing--- we need to make our own dictionary!

 

Since I'm learning new things in this thread, that would make me the homeschooled student, wouldn't it?  :confused1:

 

I think a homeschool dictionary would be great!