Plural of virus >From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. In the English language, the normal plural of virus is viruses. This form of the plural is used most frequently, both when referring to a biological virus and when referring to a computer virus. The forms viri and virii are also used as a plural, although less frequently. There is disagreement among users of the Internet over whether these forms should be considered correct. No major printed dictionary includes them as correct forms.
The plural virii is frequently perceived to be a hypercorrection formed on analogy with Latin plurals such as radii. It may have originated as whimsical usage on BBSs (see also: leet). Some claim that the virii form is used most frequently, although not exclusively, among crackers and computer virus writers with reference to computer viruses. This claim also asserts that computer professionals unaffiliated with the warez, crackers, and virus writing scenes use the viruses form instead of the virii form. Supporters of this viewpoint are often accused of being pedants pushing a prescriptive grammar agenda with the dubious use of anecdotal evidence. One opposing view is that the use of "virii" is not at all based on misunderstanding. Rather, it is said, this is just one example of the grammatical playfulness that is common in the hacker subculture, as described in The Jargon File (see external link.) The viri form is used less often. It is sometimes used by professionals, and can refer to both biological and computer viruses. To complicate matters further, viri is already used in Latin as the plural of vir, meaning "man" (thus making viri meaning "men")[1]. ------------------------ and Bruce J wrote: It's about as impossible to eradicate this usage in the outside world as it is to eradicate the bizarre notion that the plural of 'virus' is 'virii', but here in a Mac-oriented mailing list could we perhaps get it right? ------------------------ Bruce, and I am perfectly happy to stand corrected. Perhaps we should all be virii about this sometimes moot point. Cheers, Kevin -- No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Anti-Virus. Version: 7.0.338 / Virus Database: 267.10.0/63 - Release Date: 03-Aug-05 -- G-List is sponsored by <http://lowendmac.com/> and... Small Dog Electronics http://www.smalldog.com | Refurbished Drives | -- We have Apple Refurbished Monitors in stock! | & CDRWs on Sale! | Support Low End Mac <http://lowendmac.com/lists/support.html> G-List list info: <http://lowendmac.com/lists/g-list.shtml> --> AOL users, remove "mailto:"; Send list messages to: <mailto:[email protected]> To unsubscribe, email: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> For digest mode, email: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subscription questions: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Archive: <http://www.mail-archive.com/g-list%40mail.maclaunch.com/> iPod Accessories for Less at 1-800-iPOD.COM Fast Delivery, Low Price, Good Deal www.1800ipod.com
