A designated alumni search page enables visitors to search a book by title, class year or genre, and also contains links to book written by pulitzer prize winners and u. Alumni article about alumni by the free dictionary. Alumnae are important partners in the continued success of the girls club. It was surprising to me how little money there is in archeology and how. How to use alumna, alumnae, alumni, alumnus correctly. Alumni is the masculine plural, and alumnae is the feminine plural. Youll remember that a couple of weeks ago, i had a piece from neal whitman about homecoming being called hoco, and neal was also kind enough to point out that although i wrote about the words alum and alumni in some of my grammar girl books, ive never covered them on the podcast or on the website, and this would be a good time of year to do so because alumni go to homecoming. Alumni is a plural noun referring either to a group male graduates or to a group of both male and female graduates. And check out our books about the english language. Alumni refers to a group of two or more former students of a particular school. Hintus is usually an ending of masculine names and words, such as cassius, jesus and alumnus. On lake day 2011, wellesley magazine asked those out enjoying the festivities how they pronounce the word alumnae. The graduate was a woman, and the title on the page was alumni profile followed by her name.
Consider the way in which the word alumni is used in the following sentence. Alumni is the plural form of alumnus, obviously meaning a group of male graduates of an institution. Alumnus, alumna, alumni, and alumnus are all from latin. Most standard dictionaries describe alum as informalthat is, suitable for relaxed or conversational usage. Marge piercy, 57, is a poet and novelist whose long list of books includes gone to soldiers, braided lives, the longings of women, and woman on the edge of time. Alumnus is a masculine noun whose plural is alumni, and alumna is a feminine noun whose plural is alumnae.
Latin words construct their different forms using other rules as used in the english language. Alumni refers to more than one alumnus think of a graduating class. The university of chicago magazine issn00419508 is published quarterly by the university of chicago in cooperation with the alumni association. The university of chicago magazine 5235 south harper court, chicago, il 60615 phone.
This is also in accordance with ap style, which uses alumnus for a man who has attended a school, alumna for a woman, and alumni for a group of men and. Alumnus is known as the latin word used for a singular graduate of an institution usually a male. The singular alumnus refers to one male graduate, alumna refers to one female graduate, and the plural alumnae refers to a group of female graduates. A fellow equissage alumnus is the massage therapist for cigar, the 1996 horse of the year. Edward newton, a magnificent farce and other diversions of a book. Ap style alumnus, alumni, alumna, and alumnae writing explained. Alumni meaning in the cambridge english dictionary. Not sure what my point is though just that latinsgreeks use of an s on singular nouns is confusing.
Alumnae plural of alumna females that have graduated. He has a masters degree in the field of mathematics. The 1999 alumni of memorial university are invited to attend a luncheon in honor of the retirement of dr. Note that, strictly speaking, alumnus and alumni are masculine. The plural form for graduates and other former matriculated students is alumni. The graduate center, the city university of new york established in 1961, the graduate center of the city university of new york cuny is devoted primarily to doctoral studies and awards most of cunys doctoral degrees. As the previous answers have indicated alumna ae is rarely seen in the uk, except for some old girls associations where they want to show they know the difference. Find all the books, read about the author, and more. Fill in the blank with the correct word, either alumna or alumnus, or alumnae or alumni. My friend is a grammar geek and will not put her child in something with improper english. An alumnus or an alumna of a college, university, or other school is a former student who has. Grammar girls quick and dirty tips for better writing quick. We used to have alumnus male singular, alumni male plural, alumna female singular and alumnae female.
The noun alumnus means a male graduate or former student of a particular university, college, or school. As the previous answers have indicated alumnaae is rarely seen in the uk, except for some old girls associations where they want to show they know the difference. Jun 25, 2008 alumni plural of alumnus people who have attended and graduated. If we can see all the deserving girls complete their studies without any financial issues, we would have achieved our goals, says sheila mugadimunyiri, pangani girls alumni association steering committee member. Alumna is used to refer to a woman graduate or former student. Jul, 2018 my friend is a grammar geek and will not put her child in something with improper english. Alumni is the plural of alumnus but can also be used to refer to a group of men and woman graduatesformer students. Even though alumni is the plural of the alumnus, which is male, it is used quite often to refer to a group of graduates that are both male and female. Alum versus alumni grammar girl quick and dirty tips. Alumnus noun definition and synonyms macmillan dictionary. Oct 14, 2016 youll remember that a couple of weeks ago, i had a piece from neal whitman about homecoming being called hoco, and neal was also kind enough to point out that although i wrote about the words alum and alumni in some of my grammar girl books, ive never covered them on the podcast or on the website, and this would be a good time of year to do so because alumni go to homecoming.
Though the site was launched last march, brodsky said the idea for it dates back to 1995, when he bought the original web address. These latin loanwords preserve their original plural forms, and incorrect use of the words abounds because many speakers of english. This week the dictionary looks at the words alumni and alumnus. In accordance with the rules of grammar governing the inflexion of nouns in the romance. As an alum of ottawa hill scouts, betsy is always welcome to attend our events. Alumnus i absolutely love the dictionary, and their weekly teachings about words. Alumna definition is a girl or woman who has attended or has graduated from a particular school, college, or university.
The group, founded in 2015, with the help of various foundations, sponsors the education of 116 girls almost a third of the student. The princeton alumni weekly named turing the second most significant alumnus in the history of princeton university, second only to president james madison. Alumnus meaning in the cambridge english dictionary. Can someone explain the correct use of the terms alumni.
And what about the related words alumna, alumnus, and alumnae. Maybe youre at an allgirls school, or maybe the boys in the class all. But those who object to masculine forms in such cases may prefer the phrase alumni and alumnae or the form alumnaei, which is the choice of many womens colleges. Alumni actually is the plural form of alumnus, a latin word that means a graduate or former student of an educational institution.
It is also accepted as a term for a malefemale group of former students. Technically, alumni is the masculine plural form of the noun, but it can be used for either a group of mixed gender or a group of men. Alternative spelling of alumalumnus a graduate of a college or university archaic a student at a grammar school. If you want to avoid this whole mess but wheres the fun in not showing off your knowledge, use alum in place of alumnus and alumna and alums in.
Never use the phrase i am an alumni it is incorrect. The difference between alumnus and alumni is very basic as the latter is the plural form of the former. An alumnus is a male graduate or former student of a particular school. Alumnus definition of alumnus by the free dictionary. If a group of former students comprises both men and women, the men and women are alumni. Alumni plural of alumnus people who have attended and graduated. Alumna, alumnae, alumni, alumnusdont confuse them grammarly.
Ap style holds that writers should distinguish between the words alumnus, alumni, alumna, and alumnae. Although alumnus usually refers to academics, it can also mean a former employee, associate, or member of any organized group. An alum is short for a mail or female graduate, either alumnus masculine or alumna feminine. Mar 24, 2014 if you want to avoid this whole mess but wheres the fun in not showing off your knowledge, use alum in place of alumnus and alumna and alums in lieu of alumni and alumnae. At least, if youre a stickler for using ancient latin in modern english. Alumnus definition is a person who has attended or has graduated from a particular school, college, or university usually used of a man in the singular but often of men and women in the plural. One way to remember the difference between these four words is to think of other words in english with similar endings. Unlike alumni, which can refer to a group of male graduates or to a mixedgender group, alumnus is usually reserved for the boys. If it is confusing to some, the reason is the two words being latin. An alumna is a female graduate or former student of a particular school.
The alumni of a school, college, or university are the people who used to be students. Alumni is the most common of the four words by more than double. Ms chastains column, which was published on world net daily, claimed the organisation was touting ms ocasiocortez as a successful girl scout alumni. Graduates or former students of a particular educational institution. Coeducational institutions usually use alumni for graduates of both sexes. I wrote about the words alum and alumni in some of my grammar girl books, ive.
As an africanamerican ncc alumnus, i remain involved, albeit tangentially, in ncc affairs. Separate, but from the same root, is the adjective almus nourishing, found in the phrase alma mater, a title for a persons home university. Definition and synonyms of alumnus from the online english dictionary from macmillan education. Alumni is the plural of alumnus male and alumna female. Two similar words, both used in daily context, but alumni is used more, and does have a different meaning. If you dont know whether the bib is for a future alumnus boy or alumna girl, wed recommend using alum. Ap style uses alumnus when referring to a man who has attended a school. An alumni association is a college or universitys association of former students. Thats because latin grammar has a lot more distinctions based on gender than english grammar does.
Whats up with alumnus, alumna, alumni, and alumnae. Archaeologists and the seductive lure of human rubble by marilyn johnson. Mignon fogarty is the founder of quick and dirty tips and the author of seven books on language, including the new york times bestseller grammar girls quick and dirty tips for better writing. But unlike alumnae, which refers to a group of women only, alumni can be gender neutral. Turns out theres a slightly different word for women.
The history of alum, alumnus, alumna, alumni, and alumnae. Alumnus definition and meaning collins english dictionary. Oct 18, 2019 an alum is short for a mail or female graduate, either alumnus masculine or alumna feminine. Change your default dictionary to american english.
She is an inductee in the podcasting hall of fame, and the show is a fivetime winner of best education podcast in the podcast awards. Its considered a latin term, rather than an english term that derives from latin. Alumnus is defined as a graduate of a school, college, or university. Alumnae definition of alumnae by the free dictionary. My sisters are both alumnae of atherton high school.