Right, when there is this much controversy over a plural there will never be a consensus, especially when it doesn’t actually matter. The truth is that as long as people understand what you mean it doesn’t matter what you use.
Pus isn’t the Greek form so it’s neither here nor there. Octopus is an English word and as such can be pluralized in numerous ways. Octopodes is my favorite though.
Professor should know that it’s etymologically Greek, not Latin, so octopi is generally considered to be wrong.
Octopuses, or octopodes if you’re feeling badass, would be preferable afaik.
https://www.dictionary.com/e/octopuses-or-octopi/
Octopuses, octopodes, and octopi are fine.
What about octopussies?
James Bond already did that one I think…
As always, it depends on who you ask:
https://web.archive.org/web/20190422115828/https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/octopus
https://oceanconservancy.org/blog/2022/02/01/plural-octopus
https://brians.wsu.edu/2016/05/19/octopi/
Right, when there is this much controversy over a plural there will never be a consensus, especially when it doesn’t actually matter. The truth is that as long as people understand what you mean it doesn’t matter what you use.
Octopodomorphs if you want to be inclusive.
Pus isn’t the Greek form so it’s neither here nor there. Octopus is an English word and as such can be pluralized in numerous ways. Octopodes is my favorite though.