On Tue, 17 Aug 2004 14:57:40 -0600, Ashley M. Kirchner <ashley@xxxxxxxxxx> wrote: > Andrew Dietz wrote: > CACTI is a valid plural for cactus, as is cactuses. VIRII on the > other hand isn't one for virus. > I'm glad I read these off-topic threads from time to time, I always thought Virii was perfectly acceptable, if not more correct, with it being a latin root and all. I wondered if it was a difference between American and British english but a quick check in OSED set me straight. Apparently for latin viri is correct: http://lysy2.archives.nd.edu/cgi-bin/words.exe?virus , but the latin meaning is a bit divorced from the current english meaning. We could have a nice argument about how usage defines language rather than rules thought up by Victorians, but I wouldn't want to start that :) Rob
