For an individual graduate, a student is a single man, a Alumni is a single woman, and a alum is a gender neutral term. For the plural, Alumni refers to many male or gender-neutral graduates, Alumni for many female students, and alum is a gender neutral plural. These terms are often used loosely, and their strict definitions are ever-changing.
We are not exactly recognized, but we are quite trustworthy.
When you graduate from a school, do you consider yourself a alumONE (student](/dictionary/alumnus), or a Alumni? Or do you consider yourself a Alumni or one Alumnior even a alum?
All forms of ‘Alum-‘
At first glance, all this seems absurdly confusing, almost as if it were created as a test to see if you could should graduated from that school, but there is an explanation for why there are so many different forms of the word. Before getting to that explanation, here’s a quick breakdown of the current most popular uses of each of these words:
Alumni = usually single male graduates, female graduates less often
Alumni = plural male graduates & plural gender neutral graduates
Alumna = single female graduate
Alumnae = plural female graduates
Alum = single graduate, gender neutral
Alums = plural, gender-neutral graduates
Origin of ‘Alumni’
Studentderived from the Latin word for “adopted son, pupil,” is the oldest of these words, dating back to the early 17th century. Many of the words taken from Latin ended up being develops into the English plural (although some can also stay their Latin plural, as with stadium & stadiumor Forum & for a), But student did not; it can only be as plural as Alumni. Alumni Usually used for a man in the singular (although sometimes also used for a woman in the singular) but can often be found describing men and women in the plural. When used more figuratively (“a person who was a member, employee, contributor, or inmate”) student And Alumni tend to be less gendered.
Alumni (unsurprisingly also from the Latin, feminine of student) has been used since the mid-19th century to refer to “a girl or woman who attended or graduated from a particular school, college, or university.” As with studentthis word has not developed in plural form in english and only in plural form like Alumni. The word is also used in a broader sense (“a girl or woman who is a former member, employee, contributor, or inmate”), but is generally applied only to women.
Also dating from the 19th century is alumshortening of student And Alumni. This word has taken an English plural, and is pluralized as alum. While alum Initially considered highly informal, it is increasingly accepted and used.
Modern usage
All of these words, as well as the English language itself, are in a constant state of flux and what is considered true now may be viewed differently in 20 years. If you’re worried about choosing words that are less likely to spark someone’s habit, think about Alumni & Alumni like men, Alumni and Alumni as female, and alum as gender neutral.
Categories: Usage Notes
Source: vothisaucamau.edu.vn
