The plural of genius

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Anonymous  #301001  Tue, 05 Dec 06 11:16 PM
Yes you are actually correct. This from is in Latin and is not commonly used. So when you are conversing with someone else, I suggest you use geniuses.
  
Anonymous  #345941  Sun, 01 Apr 07 07:44 AM
grammar police should be shot either way.  No, not shot, tortured, then slowly deprived of oxygen until death
  
Anonymous  #349398  Wed, 11 Apr 07 04:58 AM
I droped in after looking the question up... I'm writing a school assignment so I need the academic form of the word's plural.
  
Clive  #349423  Wed, 11 Apr 07 06:46 AM

Hi,

Newton and Einstein were geniuses.

Clive

  
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Anonymous  #399218  Wed, 01 Aug 07 01:24 PM
I dont think it matters how many search results "Geniuses" or "Genii" get, it matters that the real plural word for Genius is Genii. FULL STOP Wink [;)]

Learn real english, not American english Smile [:)]
  
Anonymous  #418237  Thu, 13 Sep 07 10:42 PM

 correct

  
Anonymous  #418239  Thu, 13 Sep 07 10:45 PM
Either is correct. It is commonly debated that "Genii" is the correct term. This is true, although it is also true that "Geniuses" is the correct plural. Genii is a lesser translation of latin, whilts Geniuses is a completely english interpretation.
  
Anonymous  #418241  Thu, 13 Sep 07 10:48 PM
if locus becomes loci and octopus becomes octopi the genius becomes genii
  
Anonymous  #418247  Thu, 13 Sep 07 11:16 PM

I am English (i.e. from England). Sadly our definitive Dictionary's online presence is a charged for service. Presumably this is to keep speakers of lesser English languages where they belong intellectually Smile [:)] That being some of the reason the two languages are subtly different ("subtle" itself being a word only proper English speakers would properly understand, like sarcasm).

Not having the OED to hand, my own British-English (real English, as opposed to borrowed) dictionary informs me that "geniuses" is correct, unless speaking about Roman myth, guiding spirits (present at birth and death), guardian spirits or Arabic myth, in which case "genii" is correct.

Rather amusingly this is the exact definition the "American English" dictionaries provide at www.dictionary.com.

What is more amusing is the fact that many of you think that Google is a dictionary and the number of posts about either "Geniuses or Genii" has some relevance on which to use.

2 minute to research two proper references, Genius!

Not to be confused with Guinness.

  
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